ABSTRACT A PRACTICUM ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE FRIENDS OF SCIOTO BRUSH CREEK: A COMMUNITY DRIVEN WATERSHED ORGANIZATION By Ryan F. McClay This paper reports on the activities surrounding the author’s involvement in a community based watershed organization in southern Ohio. Detailed are the steps and processes of providing a useful set of tools and recommendations to assist the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek in meeting their stated objectives. Several aspects of social marketing and group dynamics are discussed and positive results reported. A PRACTICUM ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE FRIENDS OF SCIOTO BRUSH CREEK: A COMMUNITY DRIVEN WATERSHED ORGANIZATION A Practicum Report Submitted to the faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment for the requirements for Master of Environmental Science Institute of Environmental Sciences by Ryan F. McClay Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2005 APPROVED Advisor ____________________________ Dr. Mark Boardman Reader_____________________________ Dr. Donna McCollum Reader_____________________________ Dr. Adolph Greenberg TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ..................................................................................................................................................1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION..................................................................................................................... 1 PRACTICUM DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................................... 3 PROJECT SCOPE .......................................................................................................................................... 6 WATERSHED OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................................10 FRIENDS OF SCIOTO BRUSH CREEK WEBSITE............................................................................................ 10 Rationale............................................................................................................................................. 10 What is a CMS? .................................................................................................................................. 10 CMS Choice ........................................................................................................................................ 11 CMS Structure..................................................................................................................................... 12 Implemented CMS Features................................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................................................14 PROMOTIONAL AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 14 Rationale............................................................................................................................................. 14 Methods............................................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................................................17 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FRIENDS OF SCIOTO BRUSH CREEK........................................................... 17 Background......................................................................................................................................... 17 Recommendations and Rationale........................................................................................................ 17 Future Direction ................................................................................................................................. 19 PRESENTATION ......................................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................................................................22 PROJECT EFFECTS ..................................................................................................................................... 22 th July 6 meeting ................................................................................................................................... 22 th August 14 meeting............................................................................................................................. 22 2005 Rarden Whitetail Deer Festival ................................................................................................. 22 th October 8 meeting............................................................................................................................. 23 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 23 APPENDIX A ..............................................................................................................................................24 ii LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRACTICUM. ........................................................................... 4 TABLE 2. CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FUNCTIONS............................................................................... 11 TABLE 3. FOUR STAGES AND FOUR CHALLENGES OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT............................. 20 iii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. LAND USE/LAND COVER FOR THE SCIOTO BRUSH CREEK WATERSHED. ......................................... 9 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with great pleasure I acknowledge the helpful input from Dr. Mark Boardman and my graduate committee members, Dr. Adolph Greenberg and Dr. Donna McCollum. Likewise I wish to thank Dr. David Todt as an advisor and excellent resource for gaining insight into the dynamics of the Shawnee Nature Club and the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek. In addition, the Graduate School deserves acknowledgement for their willingness to support the pursuit of this project. I would also especially like to thank the members of the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek as without their input and constant encouragement project would not have been possible. Finally, Dr. Gene Willeke as the director of IES deserves special recognition for granting the opportunity to complete this project after a lengthy delay on my part. v Chapter 1 Background Information Scioto Brush Creek is a rural watershed in Scioto and Adams Counties in southern Ohio with few environmental impacts. It has an intact riparian corridor and its water is classified as Special High Quality Water by the Ohio EPA1. Its fish species diversity is incredible with 71 identified species and 69 documented extant species. Of all of the streams in Ohio, Scioto Brush Creek is the most like pre-settlement in fish variety. The drainage basin also includes a number of federal and state listed terrestrial and aquatic species. The watershed faces little in the way of development pressures and contains only marginal industry aside from agriculture. The primary threats to the watershed that have been identified at this point are failing or non-existent residential septic systems, poor livestock practices, and potential unregulated construction or development. 2 The Friends of Scioto Brush Creek (FoSBC) is a group working “to maintain and improve the water quality of Scioto Brush Creek through education, awareness, and involvement of local residents.”3 The FoSBC is a sub-committee of the Shawnee Nature Club (SNC), a 501c3 organization started almost 50 years ago as a bird watching group. It is now primarily a social club and nature study group. The FoSBC is the most active part of the SNC. The stated mission of the SNC is “to promote interest in all phases of nature, both as a hobby and as a science; to further study in various fields of nature; and to sponsor programs leading to the conservation and preservation of plant and animal life.” As it is a sub-committee, all participants in the FoSBC are members of the SNC. Additional members of the SNC could be called upon to serve in and work with the FoSBC. The committee 1 http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/rules/antidegHQlist_july03.pdf 2 Personal Communication, Martin McAllister, ODNR Field Officer, 12/13/2004. 3 Personal Communication, Martin McAllister, ODNR Field Officer, 12/14/2004. 1 had 15 members originally, but it has since decreased to 7 via attrition and disinterest. This is not surprising given that most members of the SNC are not impacted by the activities of the FoSBC group. The FoSBC hold the Scioto Brush Creek Days event every year and have done so for the past 6 years. This event focuses on educating 5th grade students as a method of influencing future land owners as well as current landowners through knowledge transfer from the students. The Scioto Brush Creek Days involves students from Northwest Local Schools in entertaining learning activities. The students pass through three teaching stations staffed by professional educators and Department of Natural Resources personnel. First is the