Natural Channel Design & Streambank Stabilization

How to market, sell, and fund these projects

The Problem
Areas where innovative, environmental sound drainage practices are not the norm Lack of trust in new forms of protection and drainage design How do you approach the right people, sell them the idea, fund the project, and capitalize on the results

Definitions/Scientific Junk
Too many to list Keep them simple Need to know basis Focus on positives Avoid overly-scientific
99.9% of people dont know or care to know the definition of a Thalweg

Approaching the Powers That Be

First contact should be social in nature Simple talks about the problem and new, exciting solutions Presentation in public forum Technical talks extolling the benefits

Selling the Restoration

Benefits, benefits, benefits Innovative Community support
Public announcements

Three Es

Focus on the Three Es

Economy Environment Education

Economy
Biggest motivator Trumps all other reasons Puts ideas into a concrete structure Emphasize long-term savings

Cost Benefit Analysis

High up-front costs Lower long-term costs Results in long-term savings Difficult to mow areas to prairie = 3-5 years

Hard to Mow Areas

$30,000.00 $25,000.00 $20,000.00 $15,000.00 $10,000.00 $5,000.00 $Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Lawn Prairie

Cost of Inaction
High repair costs for failure
Sloughs, bank failure, etc. Domino effect

Prioritization
Most bang for the buck Areas of great need

Creative Funding Opportunities

Grants Local Foundations State Agencies Cumulative Bridge Fund

Promoting Environmental Benefits

Bonus
In addition to economic benefits

Put it in human terms

Focus on perceived benefits to people Secondary thoughts on environmental benefits

Conservation not preservation

Education
Educate the PTB
Get them to own the project

Publish it
Newspaper, journals, etc.

Direct interaction Promotional works

Case Studies
Grandview Golf Course, Anderson, IN
Monies from White River Fish Kill Fund Long educational period for officials and golf pro Continuing education with Anderson official as to importance Signage installed showcasing importance

Case Studies
White River Levies (Muncie, IN)
Intense mowing/weedeating = high costs Started as a single example project in one location Expanded to 5 areas with more native prairie plantings and wetland restoration at the Water Pollution Control Facility Sanitary District is looking to reduce mowing as much as possible in the next 5 years (economical)

Case Studies
White River Log Jam Removal and River Restoration (Muncie, IN)
Major eco. & env. Problems
Rerouting river Moving sediment

Numerous private and pubic meetings Numerous newspaper articles Funded though cumulative bridge fund Natural channel restoration added to removal project

Case Studies
Two-stage Ditches (N. Indiana)
Multiple source funded project Heavy on education
Video PSAs

Good job selling the restoration Money & Reputation to back up the work

Video

Two Stage Ditch

Reconstruction of Joint county ditch number 2458 in Wood County, Ohio
Project construction began on May 6, 2002 and ended on June 6, 2002 with several days of downtime due to wet weather. Bench formation and earth removal took approximately six days: 3 days for 6,000 linear feet of benches and 2.5 days to dip 4,400 linear feet of earth.

Insert Picture of Sign

More information
Visit
http://sites.google.com/site/reeveiwla/