Process to guide transportation and resource specialists in the integration of transportation and ecological decisionmaking
Helps identify potential impacts to environmental resources very early in the planning process

Slide 3: Step 1 of the IEF

Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships
When getting started, consider:
- What are the boundaries of your planning region?
- What types of expertise would be helpful to your organization or planning effort?

Slide 4: Next…

Using relationships your organization already has developed, identify potential partners.
Approach new partners individually or through convening a team meeting with a shared goal.
Think about a structure for your partnerships.

Slide 5: Once the partnership is established…

Establish a joint vision.
Document partner contributions and desired outcomes.
Determine how to reach outcomes, including a timeline and communication structure.

Slide 6: As the partnership evolves…

Clear understanding of goals and abilities
Clear roles and responsibilities
Jointly identified opportunities for collaboration

Collaborative Partnering in North Carolina

Slide 7: Collaborative Partnering in North Carolina: North Carolina's Interagency Leadership Team

Presented by: John Sullivan, North Carolina FHWA Division Administrator and Debbie Barbour, North Carolina DOT Director of Pre-Construction

Slide 8: Overview

Interagency Leadership Team (ILT)
Initial Vision
Recipe for Success
Maintenance

Slide 9: ILT Members

NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
NC Dept. of Commerce
NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
NC Dept. of Transportation
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
US Army Corps of Engineers - Wilmington District
US Dept. of Commerce - National Marine Fisheries Service
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Dept. of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration
US Fish and Wildlife Service

Slide 10: ILT Mission

Develop and implement an interagency leadership plan for North Carolina to balance successfully mobility, natural and cultural resource protection, community values, and economic vitality at the confluence of our agencies' missions

Slide 11: ILT Goals

Develop a shared, comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS)
Partner to integrate local land use plans, long-range transportation planning, environmental and economic development planning to meet mobility, environmental and economic goals – Eco-Logical Vision
Improve the project development process (Merger Process)

Slide 12: The Vision

To build an multi-agency, executive level team to guide collaboration as each agency conducts planning and identify partnering opportunities
To effectively deliver transportation projects maintaining environmental excellence.

Slide 13: The Challenges

Trust
Commitment
Meeting Multiple Needs
Understanding Each Other's Needs and Business
Membership changing
Logistics: How will we operate?

Slide 14: Partnership Foundation

Interagency Project Development Process (The Merger Process) 2001
Ecosystem Enhancement Program 2003
Joint NCDOT-FHWA Planning 2004
Interagency Leadership Team 2004

Slide 15: The Strategies

Defined Vision
Gauged interest using existing relationships
Hired Facilitators
Well Planned Initial Workshop
Strategy Sessions
Developed Framework
Developed Common Mission & Goals

Slide 16: Keys to Success

Strategic Plan Focused on Common Issues and Goals
Non-Transportation Team Leader
Leadership Commitment
- Engagement in Initiatives
- Communication to Influential Stakeholders
Committed Staff

Slide 17: Maintaining the Momentum

Well Planned Meetings
Standard Dates/Times/Locations
Team Charter
Team Strategic Plan
Documented Operating Procedures
Co-Chairs
Continued education/communication

Products from Partnerships between NCDOT and State/Federal Agencies

Slide 18: Products from Partnerships between NCDOT and State/Federal Agencies

Presented by: John Dorney, Atkins North America (formerly NC Division of Water Quality) and Periann Russell, NC Division of Water Quality

Slide 19: Background

Interagency Team (ILT) oversight primarily from
- NC Division of Water Quality
- NC Department of Transportation
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Environmental Protection Agency
ILT directed staff to develop products as team partnerships
- Broad instruction to staff
- Rely on staff knowledge and experience

Slide 20: Main products

Wetland Functional Assessment Method (NC WAM)
- Completed
Stream Functional Assessment Method (NC WAM)
- Near completion
Stream Mapping
- Under way
Wetland Mapping
- Under way

Slide 21: Functional Assessment Methods

Teams established by ILT
- Agencies appointed team members
Jointly chaired by Division of Water Quality and Department of Transportation
Met bi-monthly for five (5) years
DOT provided funding for consultants
All agencies participated except Natural Resources Conservation Service
- At the time, had other priorities
- Now looking for functional assessment method and will probably use NC WAM

Slide 22: NC WAM Team members

Federal agencies
- US Army Corps of Engineers - Dave Lekson and Amanda Jones
- Environmental Protection Agency - Becky Fox and Kathy Matthews
- Federal Highway Administration - Donny Brew
- US Fish and Wildlife Service - Howard Hall
State agencies
- NC Department of Transportation - LeiLani Paugh (co-chair)
- NC Division of Coastal Management - Melissa Carle and Steve Sollod
- NC Division of Water Quality - John Dorney (co-chair)
- NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program - Jim Stanfill
- NC Natural Heritage Program - Mike Schafale
- NC Wildlife Resources Commission - David Cox
Consultant Team
- Sandy Smith (Axiom Environmental); Matt Cusack and Brad Allen (Atkins)

Slide 23: The Basics of NC WAM

Rapid functional assessment method
- 15 minutes per site after training and delineation
Field based
Reference based
Useable for all wetlands in NC
- Disturbed and undisturbed
Field check sheet - two pages
Computer program to derive final results

Slide 24: The Basics of NC WAM (cont.)

Three main functions
- Hydrology
- Water Quality
- Habitat
Ratings of High, Medium or Low
Overall ratings
Ratings by each function
DWQ web site for documents - https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources

Slide 25: Training

NC WAM training nearly complete
- Four day class with tests
- 14 sessions held for 350 students
NC SAM training is next
Division of Water Quality obtained EPA grant for training
Joint agency instructors
- Division of Water Quality
- Department of Transportation
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- Consultants

Slide 26: Implementation

Regulatory agencies developing implementation process
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Division of Water Quality
- Division of Coastal Management
Non-regulatory agencies (including DOT) will have input during public notice process

Slide 27: General Implementation Themes

Will be used for
- Training
- Permitting
- 404 Permits
- State Isolated Wetland Permits
- Mitigation
- Compliance/enforcement
- Watershed planning/mapping

Slide 28: 2011 FHWA Environmental Excellence Awards in Seattle, WA

Image: Team receiving award plaques.

Slide 29: Stream Mapping

2004: Partnership established between NC DWQ, NC DOT, and NCSU to develop methods to update GIS stream data - 1^st pilot (completed in 2008)
DWQ positions funded by NC DOT
Mapping sites based on NC DOT projects
Work together to develop products that support DOT and DWQ needs

Slide 30: Stream Mapping: Goals

Develop spatially-based headwater stream models by ecoregion that:
Predict stream location, length, and flow classification (intermittent or perennial)
Resulting stream lines are of known and consistent accuracy
Develop procedures/documentation for large-scale application

**Consistent accuracy allows maps to be used for regulatory purposes

Slide 31: Stream Mapping: To Date

Assessed technical (GIS) methods
Developed field and analytical tools for data collection and analysis
Identified useful GIS data (e.g., LiDAR)
Develop accuracy assessment methods
Field data in 12 of 24 potential Ecoregions
Modeled 6 Ecoregions

Slide 32: Stream Mapping Methods

Image: Field collection and GIS is entered into a program. The program uses a logistic regression model, Model: 1 / (1 + Exp(-39.1406 + ([asp] * -0.00214) + ([avgasp] * -0.00187) + ([plan] * 0.9620) + ([avgplan] * -104.7) + ([avgprof] * 47.9643) + ([d8slp] * -7.9884) + ([avgd8slp] * 79.0305) + ([elev] * -0.00321) + ([plen] * -0.00015) + ([lntlen] * 3.0704)))

Slide 33: Stream Mapping Methods

Image: Model applied to tested areas and checked in the field for accuracy.

Slide 34: Progress

Image: Map showing 12 ecoregions and 84 watershed sites.

Slide 35: Stream Mapping: Implementation

First test of stream maps for regulatory use
Major NC DOT road project - Kinston Bypass
Cooperators: FHWA, USACE, USFWS, USEPA, NC DWQ, NC Wildlife Resources, NC DOT
Working through use, application, limitations of data

Slide 36: Conclusion

Value of partnerships at staff level
Funding positions across agencies important
Communication between regulatory and non-regulatory agencies essential
- Regular meetings during method development and training
- Similar language developed between agencies
- Common interests nurtured

Slide 37: Next webinar

Step 2 of the IEF: Characterize Resource Status and Integrate Natural Environment Plans
Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Department of Transportation will share lessons from their collaborative effort, Beginning with a Habitat, a habitat-based approach to conserving wildlife and plant habitat on a landscape scale.
www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/Env_initiatives/eco-logical.aspx

For questions or feedback on this subject, please contact Mike Ruth at 202-366-9509.

Eco-Logical Webinar How to Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships: Step 1 in the Integrated Ecological Framework

PDF Version [866kB]

Table of Contents

How to Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships

Collaborative Partnering in North Carolina

Products from Partnerships between NCDOT and State/Federal Agencies

Eco-Logical Webinar
How to Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships: Step 1 in the Integrated Ecological Framework