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Commuiities from the Inside Out: A Path Towards Finding and Mobilizing a <br />Commuiity's Assets" (John P. Kretzman); <br />Conversations with employees of Keep It Clean Partnership, and; <br />A discussion with the City of Boulder's Office of Enviroiullental Affairs to gauge <br />what community outreach methods have proven to be successfiil by that city <br />department. <br />Community development begins with the identification of a commuiity's capacities, <br />skills and assets. By comlecting specific individuals, associations and institutions a <br />community begins to assemble its strengths into new combinations. From that <br />opportunities arise for collaboration on pertinent projects. <br />lb. Conversations with Agency Officials and User Groups <br />Local, regional and statewide agency persomlel, non-profit organizations, fishermen and birders, <br />and other stakeholders were contacted to solicit their ideas, comments and suggestions. These <br />stakeholders are the people most affected by the existing quality of the Boulder Creek watershed <br />and the decisions made to impact or improve it. They spend many hours observing even the most <br />subtle changes within the creek and its surrounding habitat. Their involvement was critical in <br />helping establish a Boulder Creek Communty Stewardship Plan and an overall community <br />stewardship ethic. <br />BCWI staff held twenty-eight face-to-face meetings (Table 1, Stewa~•dship Plar1 Contact <br />List). Historical water quality, water quantity, riparian and land use issues were <br />discussed. How the general public perceives watershed issues, whom might be seen as <br />important additional contacts and specific ways that BCWI can utilize its volunteers in <br />hands-on activities were also discussed. A standard form was used for participants at each <br />meeting in order to quantify results of these discussions. By accomplishing this task, <br />BCWI learned what issues are most important to stakeholders within the watershed and <br />how volunteers can assist those stakeholders in watershed protection and improvement <br />activities. <br />lc. Informational Feedback Community Meetings <br />BCWI held communty feedback forums in five cities and towns within the watershed. BCWI's <br />goal with these meetings was to find out what the concerns and priorities of various community <br />members are in terms of watershed protection and to then incorporate these concerns and ideas <br />into the overall Community Stewardship Plan. <br />ld. Community Stewardship Plan Draft Document and Review <br />BCWI synthesized all of the information obtained in the previous tasks and incorporated <br />them into the Boulder Creek Community Stewardship Plan. Stewardship activities and <br />volunteer opportunties were defined along with the plans for carrying them out. Future <br />water quality projects and activities will include pertinent techiical information such as <br />appropriate equipment needed, plans for data collection and validation and, a quality <br />assurance/quality control plan, if necessary. <br />2 <br />