Assignment PT3-2
Select Assignment PT3-2 if you already have goals, objectives for a particular problem or protection issue in your watershed. If possible, complete the following exercise with your group or a knowledgeable group of stakeholders. Below is a table that can be used as a decision aid to evaluate and improve on your objectives. Note: If you do not have decision criteria for each of your goals you will need to develop some.
Table II is based on the assumption that the most effective objectives have the potential to address multiple goals. Use the table as a template to create your own. Put the objectives you developed in the far left column and your goals across the top row.
Now, rate each of the objectives (*using your decision criteria) based on how effective you believe that objective will be at achieving your goals. In the example below, Objective 1 (Restore riparian habitat along Buck Creek) is rated as having Low potential to Increase scientific and management understanding (Goal 3), but High potential to protect or enhance aquaitc habitat (Goal 1).
*It may be possible to develop a numerical or other rating for decision criteria if not just use a qualitative scale (e.g., High, Med, or Low).
| Goals (decision critieria are in parentheses) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Protect or enhance aquatic habitat (Length of stream course with adequate habitat) | Minimize costs (Cost of management option capital and operating in dollars) | Increase community understanding of problem (potential opportunity for improvement rating) |
| restore riparian habitat along Buck Creek | L | H | H |
| purchases easements along Buck CreeK | M | M | H |
| Landowner education program septic BMPs | M | M | H |
H = Objective has High potential to address this goal.
M = Objective has Moderate potential to address this goal.
L = Objective has Low potential to address this goal.
Once you have completed the table and rated each of your objectives, describe what questions came up as you were rating the objectives. For example, did you find it difficult to rate some of the objectives using your decision criteria? What information would you need to make a more accurate rating?
How could you modify some of your objectives to improve their rating on one or more of the goals.
Products to turn in for review:
Completed Table II. Also, explain what questions arose as you attempted to rate the objectives and describe any changes you would make to your objectives after completing the table to improve their performance across multiple objectives.