Strategic Plan for Friends of Sligo Creek Approved by the Board of Directors, November 3, 2002 1 June 2004 edition

This plan, understood to be a work-in-progress, is for use by the Board of Directors as a framework for prioritizing action; it may also be used as an exhibit of the organization's focus, e.g., in grant applications. Sligo Creek/Park is land entrusted to management by the Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), and the work of Friends of Sligo Creek is undertaken in collaboration with M-NCPPC staff in Montgomery and Prince George's County.

I. Mission

II. Summary of Goals

1. Inventory and Monitoring
   To inventory, document, and monitor the health of Sligo Creek using trained volunteers and established data-collection standards and techniques; to use the data gathered in Sligo Friends' projects and to make it available to others
2. Restoration and Conservation
   To improve the ecological integrity of Sligo Creek and its watershed through hands-on work and through education of homeowners and businesses within the watershed
3. Public Education and Outreach
   To build local public awareness and to engage homeowner/community action in support of the health of Sligo Creek
4. Advocacy
   To keep abreast of governmental, civic, and economic developments that affect the health of the Sligo watershed; and to advocate in these arenas for the health of the watershed
5. Membership and Community Involvement
   To recruit and retain a group of community volunteers- reflective of the diversity of the community-who participate in building the health of the watershed
6. Organizational Focus and Development
   To establish and maintain an organizational structure and an ongoing planning process that guide focused, effective, sustainable work.

III. Goal-by-Goal Objectives and Action Plans

1. Inventory and Monitoring

   Goal

   • To inventory, document, and monitor the health of Sligo Creek using trained volunteers and established data-collection standards and techniques.
   • To use the data gathered in Sligo Friends' projects and to make it available to others.

   Objectives

   • To inventory (map) Sligo Creek to collect data to serve as baselines and as information to use in setting priorities
   • To learn about and monitor the water quality of Sligo Creek.

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. Learn and document the present reality
      1. Mapping Project (phase I)
         1. Determine desired outcomes of Mapping Project, including what is to be identified and how recorded (e.g., extent and location of erosion, run-off points of entry, extent of invasive non-native flora, location of pristine or special areas in need of priority protection)
         2. Create identification protocols and define mapping team responsibilities
         3. Recruit, train, and provide resources to the mapping teams
         4. Gather any related information collected by the state, county, Council of Governments, and others
         5. Collect, collate, and evaluate information
         6. Propose a resultant action plan, and incorporate into the Strategic Plan
      2. Flora inventory project
         1. To set the 1970 Salisbury List of Plants into a database; recruit participants for contributing current information; maintain on website
         2. To gather information on wildflower appearance as a signal of remaining forest quality; and to record for baseline and planning
      3. Fauna inventory project
         1. i)To gather information on Sligo fauna (supplemented by prior COG fish data), and to record fauna data for baseline records and for further monitoring
         2. To monitor within Sligo the effects of the M-NCPPC's deer control program and to collaborate with staff in future directions
   2. Water-quality monitoring project--both physical and biological
      1. a)Establish leadership for the project; secure training
      2. Set desired outcomes; establish monitoring protocols, including frequency of monitoring
      3. Define water-monitors' responsibilities and the processes for on-going accountability and communication
      4. Recruit, train, and provide resources to water-quality monitors
      5. Select monitoring sites and begin monitoring process
      6. Collect, collate, and evaluate, and disseminate conclusions, e.g., to agencies, judicatories, Sligo Friends website
      7. Propose a resultant action plan, and incorporate into the Strategic Plan

2. Restoration and Conservation

   Goal

   To improve the ecological integrity of Sligo Creek and its watershed through hands-on work and through education of homeowners and businesses within the watershed

   Objectives

   • To restore eroded stream-banks and lessen future bank erosion
   • To reduce the amount of storm water running directly into the creek
   • To increase the amount of native vegetation that cools the creek and filters incoming water
   • To reduce the amount of litter in and entering the creek
   • To work with M-NCPPC to widen streamside buffers and implement other standards from the 1995 Sligo Creek Park Management Plan

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. Stabilize critically eroded banks
      1. Use data from the Mapping Project to identify bank-erosion "hot spots" and prioritize places for intervention
      2. Collaborate with Park and Planning staff and with other consultants, as needed, to determine technically feasible ways to stabilize stream-banks
      3. Experiment with native species, local sites, and planting techniques (e.g., live-staking) to identify effective botanical contributions to stabilizing banks
   2. Prevent continuing erosion by reducing the quantity of storm-water flowing in
      1. Gather information from appropriate agencies to identify Sligo watershed drainage patterns by neighborhood, and identify areas with direct flows into the creek (lacking settlement ponds)
      2. Experiment with techniques in reducing the quantity of water running off homeowner/business property and into Sligo storm drains; evaluate techniques and establish what can be locally effective
      3. Negotiate and construct demonstration projects at highly visible locations, e.g. Dennis Community Center, Kemp Mill Center parking lot
      4. Educate homeowners and business owners in effective techniques and their importance, e.g., planting trees, directing gutters, avoiding more impermeable surfaces such as driveway widening.
      5. Investigate the feasibility of creating additional wetlands and bio-retention areas; incorporate into Strategic Plan
   3. Remove/contain invasions of exotic vines and other plants
      1. In collaboration with the Weed Warrior staff and Sligo Stewards, use mapping project data to prioritize sites for invasive plant removal
      2. Find/develop information, materials, and techniques for skilled, local work, e.g. calendar showing peak times for invasive identification and removal
      3. Create a tool library for reference and circulation, including supplies of gloves and cutters for group projects
      4. Sponsor and conduct vine-cutting and other invasives-removal events
   4. Plant previously invaded areas and extend stream buffer
      1. Develop expertise in knowing what to plant and where-locally appropriate trees, shrubs, and ground covers
      2. Identify native plant sources and secure funding, as needed; build skill and recruit participation in propagation
      3. In conjunction with Sligo Stewards, prioritize locations for planting
      4. Educate homeowners about the value of planting trees and removing invasive plants on their property.
   5. Minimize litter
      1. Use information from the Council of Government's Sligo Creek Trash Reduction Plan (January 2000); prioritize and implement recommendations about reducing and eliminating the amount of litter entering the stream
      2. Consult with County staff, Sligo Stewards, and park users as County institutes a "trash-free park" policy. Observe results and develop an appropriate response.
      3. Plan and sponsor litter removal events
   6. Reduce water pollution
      1. Identify sources of pollution within the watershed
      2. Work with homeowners, businesses, and government to reduce the quantity of in-flowing pollutants

3. Public Education and Outreach

   Goal

   To build local public awareness and to engage homeowner/community action in support of the health of Sligo Creek

   Objectives

   • To educate the local public on environmental threats to the Sligo Creek watershed
   • To build motivation to support the ecological health of Sligo woods and water
   • To change practices that are harmful to Sligo creek/woods/watershed

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. Education
      1. Build and maintain the Sligo Friends website as educational tool (e.g., maps of forest cover vs impermeable surface, pictures of invasives and native plants, past and current fish species)
      2. Plan and present regular program meetings (educational topics, guest speakers, discussions of issues)
      3. Sponsor educational, creek-side walks and field trips
      4. Create/provide educational, targeted, topical hand-outs (e.g., storm water control, littering, pet-waste disposal, toxic dumping) and other resource materials to homeowners, commercial businesses, and government facilities for the purpose of motivational change, offering specific alternatives to creek-harmful behavior.
   2. Outreach
      1. Develop and maintain an up-to-date website calendar
      2. Provide regular communications, e.g., newsletters, an annual reports
      3. Incorporate Sligo Friends information into local civic association newsletters
      4. Disseminate Sligo Friends information and fliers at local events, park kiosks, store bulletin boards, and community centers
      5. Collaborate with other watershed restoration groups
   3. Media
      1. Place Sligo Friends event announcements in local newspapers and other publications
      2. Place Sligo Friends articles in local newspapers and other publications
4. Advocacy (revised June 2004)

   Goal

   To keep abreast of governmental, civic, and economic developments that affect the health of the Sligo watershed; and to advocate in these arenas for the health of the watershed

   Objectives

   • To keep abreast of current and upcoming public policy issues, legislation, and agency activities that may affect Sligo Creek
   • To monitor land use plans in search of opportunities to stop unwise development, preserve undeveloped land, increase forest cover, and decrease impermeable surface within the Sligo Creek watershed
   • To keep abreast of governmental budget processes and decisions on issues affecting Sligo and respond as needed with testimony, calls, and letters
   • To establish a communication network and effectively circulate alerts to Sligo Friends for mobilization and action

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. Develop a process to track legislation and public decision-making, receive communications from allied organizations, and generate action alerts to those willing to participate in the advocacy aspect of Sligo Friends' mission
   2. Present testimony at public hearings
   3. Communicate with politicians, agency staff, and other decision-makers about issues of concern
   4. Write letters to the press on issues as they arise
   5. Develop and sustain relationships with governmental and non-governmental officials, organizations, and natural resource management staff

5. Membership and Community Involvement

   Goal

   To recruit and retain a group of community volunteers- reflective of the diversity of the community--who participate in building the health of the watershed

   Objectives

   • To establish a membership base of Sligo Friends
   • To develop a pool of community participants in clean-up and restoration events sponsored by Sligo Friends, with participants including local business owners/operators, homeowners, apartment-dwellers, and youth
   • To build alliances with schools, senior centers, faith communities, businesses, non-English-speaking communities, and other local organizations that participate in Sligo Friends events and that provide opportunities for watershed education within their own programs
   • To generate a portion of operating revenues through membership fees

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. Provide energizing and welcoming program meetings and creek-side events
   2. Track participation in meetings and events, maintaining a database of participants--their contact information, location within the watershed, and interests
   3. Communicate with members at a frequency and with a content that participants welcome
   4. Design, distribute, and collect membership forms
   5. Format and distribute contact information needed by those working together
   6. Identify, contact, and assess Sligo restoration interest/potential within community groups and cohorts:
      • youth groups (e.g., Boys/Girls Club, Boy/Girl Scouts)
      • students (elementary through college) and their schools
      • senior centers
      • temples and churches
      • civic/ homeowner/ neighborhood associations
      • people who use park for recreation
   7. Solicit and recruit members and occasional volunteers from local communities
   8. Offer opportunities to contribute-ideas, time, energy, names of friends, money
   9. Acknowledge and celebrate Sligo Friends' accomplishments, at meetings, in the press, at annual anniversary
      See also Strategies and Action Plan for Goal C: Public Education and Outreach, above

6. Organizational Focus and Development

   Goal

   establish and maintain an organizational structure and an ongoing planning process that guide focused, effective, sustainable work.

   Objectives

   • To develop task forces/committees to implement and further develop goals and objectives of Sligo Friends
   • To build a sectional stewardship structure for the length of Sligo Creek Park
   • To develop roles and leadership within the Board of Directors and a plan for the future leadership
   • To establish and maintain sound, effective, and transferable record-keeping and financial practices
   • To secure funding for operational costs associated with priority strategies

   Key Strategies and Action Plan

   1. To establish a process for assessing progress on the strategic plan and making timely revision
   2. Define responsibilities of sectional stewardship; recruit and orient lead stewards and members of their teams; and establish forms of communication and accountability
   3. Establish (or encourage the emergence of) task forces to address specific goals or issues, e.g. water quality, litter
   4. Develop mechanisms and patterns of communication between Sligo Stewards and issue-based task groups, between stewards and Board of Directors, and among stewards
   5. Develop job descriptions for the Board and its officers
   6. Set up and maintain electronic and hardcopy files and records that will allow continuity
   7. Identify and compile potential funding sources
   8. Submit grant applications to secure funding necessary to support events, programs, and infrastructure