Community Connections for Watershed Change
For over fifty years HRWC has led projects and programs throughout the Huron River’s 925-square mile watershed. Some areas, such as those with higher population densities, are more served by our projects than others.
Through our Listen> Learn> Connect project, we are reaching out to community leaders and residents to explore new ways to collaborate on addressing watershed issues that meet their priorities for clean water.
This initiative includes listening sessions, surveys, and interviews to better understand various communities’ watershed priorities, interests, and visions. This acquired knowledge will directly inspire co-created programs that support river and community health. From 2022-2025, HRWC will:
- ASSESS AND IDENTIFY: During this initial ‘desktop research’ phase we will examine existing geospatial, social, and demographic information to understand where to increase investments and focus future efforts, paying particular attention to underserved and marginalized communities.
- LISTEN AND LEARN: We will also connect with community leaders and residents through interviews, listening sessions, and surveys to identify local priorities, interests, and visions for the river and community.
- CREATE AND COLLABORATE: Once we gain insight, we will co-create projects based on community-identified priorities and values. These local watershed protection projects will ideally be coordinated with local community partners.
- SUSTAIN AND ADAPT: Commit to continue learning from and sustaining relationships with our Listen>Learn>Connect project communities, so our approaches evolve as river conditions and local priorities change.
Check out what we have learned!
In the fall of 2023, we mailed and posted surveys in the 3 communities we selected for this project. During the winter 2023-2024, HRWC staff hosted six listening sessions, 2 in each community, to learn from residents: what they think about their local water, how they interact with it, what are areas of concern, and what priorities they have when it comes to protecting their water.