West Metro Water Alliance

Several Watershed Management Organizations (WMOs) in the West Metro area have met periodically in the past as a Joint Education and Outreach group to collaborate on water resources education and outreach activities. This informal group grew from an initial collaboration of the Shingle Creek, West Mississippi and Bassett Creek WMOs to include the Elm Creek and Pioneer-Sarah Creek WMOs.

From this collaboration the West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) was established in 2010 and has developed the following vision and mission statements:

Vision:

The West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) is a collaborative group working to create educational opportunities to protect and improve water resources.

Mission:

The mission of the WMWA is to improve water resources through education and outreach by:

·         Identifying and implementing common education and outreach strategies to promote consistency of messages;

·         Pooling resources to undertake activities in the most cost-effective manner; and

·         Promoting interagency cooperation and collaboration.

The group operates with staff support provided by Shingle Creek WMO consultants Judie Anderson and JASS, and Diane Spector from Wenck Associates.  Hennepin County Environmental Services, Three Rivers Park District and the Freshwater Society also provide support to WMWA as partners. The Shingle Creek  WMO serves as the group’s fiscal agent.

WMWA has developed a West Metro Education and Outreach Plan, intended to provide details on joint activities and to provide a framework that the participating organizations can use to develop or refine their own education and outreach plans. The actions in the West Metro Education and Outreach Plan are based around the education and outreach requirements of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s General Stormwater Permit.  The following is a summary of the goals set forth for this Plan:

·

            Provide a guide for WMOs and communities to focus their educational efforts;

·            Identify partnerships and opportunities to work within Hennepin County on joint educational programs;

·            Develop a centralized list of available information regarding water resources issues; and

·            Present one common, useable document for all participating communities and WMOs to help them deliver a common message to the general public.