5.4: Public Officials
Increase local public officials’ awareness, understanding, and active participation in water resources issues. Other Information:
As emphasized throughout this Plan, better local land use decisions are the key to protecting water resources. Public officials
at the county and municipal levels make most of these decisions. Outreach to these officials is critical, because state and
federal regulations do not and cannot provide a range of protection adequate to address all the potential impacts of land
management decisions on water resources. Targeting elected officials and local leaders for education and assistance. Local
leadership is essential for local action. Leadership within the decision-making process can be especially effective to forge
the critical link between land use and water resource management. • The watersheds of the 13,539 square-mile Basin include
all or portions of 838 towns, townships, boroughs and cities in 42 counties. • The political and legislative structure of
three states and a commonwealth dictate differences in roles, responsibilities and authority among those entities. • Political
cycles determine changes in community management occurring with great frequency — potentially every one to four years. Dedicated
commitment is required to provide education and technical resources as each new team of leaders takes office. Providing technical
assistance to watershed communities. To incorporate changes in land use plans and regulations, watershed communities require
technical information that is scientifically sound and legally defensible. Broad-based information about the role of planning
in water resource management is a critical element of this education and outreach. • Generally, communities are hesitant to
take action on an issue if it makes them vulnerable to legal action. Education and assistance programs must be developed to
address this issue. Water resource protection needs to be easy and relatively effortless for successful local adoption and
application. Model ordinances can facilitate this. Fostering partnership and communication among communities within each watershed.
It is important for each jurisdiction to understand its role within a watershed. (See “Key Result Area 3: Linking Land and
Water Resource Management” for a discussion on watershed community). Watershed communities should be encouraged to share information,
collaborate on similar issues and agree on desired water resource outcomes. Non-profit organizations such as local watershed
alliances can help facilitate this collaboration. Addressing the upstream and downstream roles of the community as part of
outreach to public officials. Programs to educate and encourage stewardship among public officials should help them to understand
how their community fits into the larger picture of the watershed, and where their watershed fits into the Basin. • Most officials
have a good understanding of the political landscape in their county and state. The ‘waterscape’ needs to become just as salient
to accomplish improved water resource results. Making funding and other resources available for watershed communities to prepare
and implement water resource-oriented plans and ordinances. Making resources available with a minimum of fuss and hassle can
make a big difference at the local level. A dedicated fund to improve the water IQ of local decision-makers is especially
valuable and practical. One of the purposes of developing this document is to provide a management tool for addressing the
many water resource-related issues facing the Delaware River Basin. Through the narrative sections of this Plan, a direction
has been set and Goals have been identified to achieve the Desired Results. The following section is a Matrix of Goals and
Objectives. The identified Objectives lead to successfully reaching the Goals. Accomplishing the Objectives requires applying
the integrated management concepts described throughout the Basin Plan.
Objective(s):
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