Stream Health Initiative: DEFINE
Stream Health Initiative: DEFINE
The Stream Health Initiative Work Group, comprised of rural and urban residents, farmers, forest owners, conservation professionals, and business owners, has created a draft Vision and Goals for stream health in our community.
The purpose of the Vision and Goals is to help focus our efforts as we develop strategies for improving stream health. The Vision is intended to reflect the desired condition of our waterways as we look to the future, while the Goals reflect what we hope to accomplish – broadly – in order to meet that overall Vision.
We’d love to know how well this aligns with what you believe the community’s Vision and Goals for stream health should be, as well as any ideas you might have for specific strategies and actions that could help address these goals. Please participate below to share your thoughts!
Community Vision for Stream Health
Desired condition of the county’s waterways as we look to the future
Albemarle County will have clean, healthy stream systems that allow for safe utilization and support a diverse and resilient natural environment and a thriving rural economy.
The quality of the water and riparian areas will safely allow for recreational uses such as swimming, boating, and fishing; maintain healthy and diverse aquatic and terrestrial habitat; support agriculture and other rural industries; and provide important benefits such as erosion and sediment control, flood mitigation, drinking water protection, climate resilience, protection of biodiversity, and scenic beauty.
How accurately does this reflect your vision for stream health in Albemarle County?
Community Goals for Stream Health
What we hope to accomplish - broadly - in order to reach our overall vision
Goal: Maintain and improve local conditions to ensure that our streams and rivers are meeting or exceeding the state water quality standards.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.
Goal: Increase our understanding of the status and needs of our waterways through monitoring and assessment within our watersheds.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.
Goal: Strengthen programs, policies, and enforcement mechanisms to have clear, effective, and enforceable measures.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.
Goal: Increase and promote incentives and voluntary measures that protect stream health.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.
Goal: Protect and restore riparian systems to maintain and enhance the benefits they provide to people and the natural environment.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.
Goal: Foster a well-informed and educated public that understands the importance of stream health, local policies, best management practices, and individual actions that can affect stream health.
Do you believe this should be one of our community's goals for stream health?
How might we address this goal?
Add any ideas you have for strategies or actions that can be taken to address the goal.