technical symposium
—Project Snapshot: The Land, Water, & People symposium examined new market-based tools and incentives to plan for and protect working resource lands and watersheds in Whatcom County, Washington. Dumas & Associates, Inc., worked with Whatcom Farm Friends, natural resource market working group, and regional partners to design and conduct the broadly attended 1/2 day symposium, survey of participant attitudes, and document technical presentations and input.
—Results: 84 technical specialists, policy makers, advocates, citizens, and landowners provided valuable insight on how market tools and approaches might help landowners and government agencies better care for the health and stability of Whatcom County’s natural resource lands. More information on symposium proceedings and survey results is available here.
transboundary watershed networks
—Project Snapshot: Dumas & Associates, Inc. developed a member information and engagement plan for the Bertrand Watershed Improvement District (WID) aimed at increasing awareness of key water resource constraints in the US portion of the international Bertrand Creek Watershed, knowledge of the WRIA1 Instream Flow Pilot Negotiations, and advance coordination among water resource managers and landowners on both sides of the US and Canadian border.
—Results: Bertrand WID commissioners expanded awareness of key US water resource concerns through State of the Watershed reports, transboundary field tours, technical symposiums, public forums and data improvement projects. Free data sharing agreements were secured between US and Canadian peers, coordinated data improvements were advanced and water resource managers, technical specialists, researchers, and landowners conducted many small tests of change and strengthened interdisciplinary and interjurisdictional networks.
citizen dialogues
—Project Snapshot: Working with Leadership Whatcom alumni, Dumas & Associates, Inc. designed the framework for the award-winning Productive Public Conversation Series, citizen-led, nonpartisan discussions about pressing community issues. Dumas & Associates, Inc designed and facilitated skills-building exercises on how to contribute to thoughtful, reasoned discourse about complex, contentious public issues.
—Results: Four programs were offered during 2005-2010, helping 350 citizens learn more about the issues in the news, from agricultural land preservation, citizens role in government, to tools for discussing climate change, and regional approaches to economic development. The Case Foundation recognized the program as 1 of a 100 breakthrough ideas in citizen-centric engagement for the 2007 Make It Your Own awards.
