Puget Sound conservation districts and shoreline assistance programs
Presentation Abstract
The state of knowledge about coastal processes, nearshore ecology, and land management along the marine shoreline is evolving. Integrating this information into a new behavioral norm for waterfront homeowners is imperative to protect the health and function of the Puget Sound. In particular, reducing shoreline modification and armor installation on residential properties is a widely acknowledged and pressing goal. Yet how can we most effectively achieve behavior change that truly embraces shoreline stewardship? Success requires not only information sharing, but understanding and the adoption of desired actions by individuals. Conservation Districts have a long history of working directly with landowners, to implement science-based stewardship projects. Marine technical assistance is a growing area at the 12 Puget Sound Districts. In Mason County, WA, a pilot Shore Friendly program is now entering its 4th year. The initiative fosters behavior change and has encountered many challenge and successes. This poster explores how the Conservation District service model links the latest information about shoreline health and impacts to on-the-ground behavior. It explores new program growth at Puget Sound Districts, and topics specific to the Shore Friendly Mason program. • How are Conservation Districts addressing shoreline stewardship with landowners? What aspects of their technical assistance model succeed– and where are the greatest challenges? • What Shore Friendly Mason program elements are successfully influencing homeowner behavior? • Which concepts about shoreline ecology, process, or management resonate– and which do not? • How has collaboration among varied disciplines played a critical role? • How are incentives used - and with what success? • Which emerging challenges need to be addressed to realize greater long term success? By reflecting on work to date, and on the possibilities of expanded future efforts, this poster asks for collaborative discussion about how best to translate research findings into action - by the people who have most impact
Session Title
Posters: Data & Information Management
Conference Track
SSE18: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE18-36
Start Date
5-4-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Community-based conservation--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Shorelines--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Puget Sound conservation districts and shoreline assistance programs
The state of knowledge about coastal processes, nearshore ecology, and land management along the marine shoreline is evolving. Integrating this information into a new behavioral norm for waterfront homeowners is imperative to protect the health and function of the Puget Sound. In particular, reducing shoreline modification and armor installation on residential properties is a widely acknowledged and pressing goal. Yet how can we most effectively achieve behavior change that truly embraces shoreline stewardship? Success requires not only information sharing, but understanding and the adoption of desired actions by individuals. Conservation Districts have a long history of working directly with landowners, to implement science-based stewardship projects. Marine technical assistance is a growing area at the 12 Puget Sound Districts. In Mason County, WA, a pilot Shore Friendly program is now entering its 4th year. The initiative fosters behavior change and has encountered many challenge and successes. This poster explores how the Conservation District service model links the latest information about shoreline health and impacts to on-the-ground behavior. It explores new program growth at Puget Sound Districts, and topics specific to the Shore Friendly Mason program. • How are Conservation Districts addressing shoreline stewardship with landowners? What aspects of their technical assistance model succeed– and where are the greatest challenges? • What Shore Friendly Mason program elements are successfully influencing homeowner behavior? • Which concepts about shoreline ecology, process, or management resonate– and which do not? • How has collaboration among varied disciplines played a critical role? • How are incentives used - and with what success? • Which emerging challenges need to be addressed to realize greater long term success? By reflecting on work to date, and on the possibilities of expanded future efforts, this poster asks for collaborative discussion about how best to translate research findings into action - by the people who have most impact
