The document discusses engaging local citizens in conservation efforts like the Indian Creek Project in Illinois. The project aims to improve water quality in the Indian Creek watershed by encouraging adoption of best management practices on 50% of the land in the watershed. It does this through partnerships providing technical, educational, social, and financial support to local farmers and landowners. The project has found that it takes time to engage people, local leadership is effective, and partnerships are important to ensure success of conservation projects.

1. ENGAGING LOCAL CITIZENS
CHAD WATTS, CTIC PROJECT DIRECTOR

2. CTIC champions, promotes and provides
information on technologies and sustainable
agricultural systems that conserve and enhance
soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are
productive and profitable.
CTIC

3. A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
MEMBERS
• CORPORATIONS, INSTITUTIONS (MEDIA, COMMODITY GROUPS,
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS), INDIVIDUALS
ADVISORS & PARTNERS
• FEDERAL AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, EXTENSION, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

4. CONSERVATION SCALE CHALLENGE
• HOW TO ENGAGE LOCAL CITIZENS IN THE PROTECTION OF NATIONALLY OR REGIONALLY
SIGNIFICANT PRIORITY AREAS AND HOW TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED.
• LOCAL FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS ARE CRITICAL TO MAKING THE NECESSARY CHANGES ON THE
LAND AT A SUFFICIENT SCALE THAT WILL LEAD TO LARGER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

5. ENGAGING LOCAL CITIZENS IN PROTECTING WATER
QUALITY
• INDIAN CREEK PROJECT IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY, IL
• FOCUSED ON PROVIDING:
• TECHNICAL SUPPORT
• EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
• SOCIAL SUPPORT
• FINANCIAL SUPPORT

6. INDIAN CREEK EXAMPLE
• OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION BY:
• ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
• DEMONSTRATING PRIORITY BEST PRACTICES TO ENCOURAGE BEST
BEST PRACTICE ADOPTION
• GOAL IS TO ENGAGE THE LOCAL LAND OWNERS AT A
SUFFICIENT SCALE TO ENACT CHANGE IN A SMALL
WATERSHED.
• WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE 50% OF THE LANDOWNERS
TO EMPLOY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON 50% OF
THE LAND IN THE WATERSHED SO THAT WE CAN MEASURE
THE RESULTING IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY

7. INDIAN CREEK PARTNERS
Livingston County
Soil & Water Conservation District
Indian Creek Steering Committee
Industry Partners and Sponsors

8. CORPORATE SPONSORS

9. Indian Creek Project
CTIC 319
Efforts
Social
Support
Educational
Support
SWCD
MRBI Efforts
Financial
Support
Technical
Support

10. STEERING COMMITTEE
• HELP GUIDE THE PROJECT – PROVIDE
INSIGHT, OVERSIGHT AND INFORMATION
• COMPRISED OF:
• FARMERS
• RETAILERS
• BANKERS
• INTERESTED CITIZENS
• GOVERNMENT PARTNERS (NRCS, SWCD, IL
EPA)

11. ENGAGING FARMERS
• ON-FARM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
• CONDUCTING ON-FARM
DEMONSTRATIONS OF PRIORITY BEST
PRACTICES
• SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE
ON-FARM DEMONSTRATIONS AT
MEETINGS AND FIELD EVENTS
• SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES
WITH INDIAN CREEK AND WHAT THEY
HAVE LEARNED

12. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
• TIME – IT TAKES TIME TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AND MAKE POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN – DO NOT
EXPECT IMMEDIATE RESULTS
• LOCAL LEADERSHIP CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN ENGAGING OTHER FARMERS IN THE PROJECT
• LOCAL PARTICIPATION BREEDS MORE LOCAL PARTICIPATION
• IF YOU SOLICIT LOCAL PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP – LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL CONNECTED TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING

13. MORE LESSONS LEARNED
• THE MESSAGES YOU THINK WILL RESONATE WITH LOCALS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT REALLY
MOTIVATES THEM TO PARTICIPATE
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR
DESIRE TO PROTECT THAT WHICH IS IN THEIR OWN BACK YARDS
• CHALLENGE IS THAT THERE CAN BE FIERCE COMPETITION WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE
COMMUNITY FOR LAND AND RESOURCES
• SOMETIMES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENCOURAGE PRODUCERS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE DOING

14. VALUE OF PARTNERSHIPS
• PARTNERSHIPS ARE THE NAME OF THE GAME TO HELP ENSURE SUCCESS
• A STRONG, LOCAL AND TRUSTED PARTNER IS PARAMOUNT TO PROJECT SUCCESS
• RIGHT MIX OF PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE PROJECT’S NEEDS IS IMPORTANT
• NO ONE PARTNER NEEDS TO BRING ALL OF THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TO THE TABLE

15. CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FUTURE – HOW TO
REPLICATE THE INDIAN CREEK MODEL
• LOOK FOR PLACES THAT HAVE A RALLYING POINT – I.E. DOCUMENTED ISSUES THEY ARE ADDRESSING AND
CAPITALIZE ON IT AS AN INITIAL MOTIVATOR – MUST LOCALIZE THE ISSUE
• DO NOT USE A “TOP DOWN” APPROACH – YOU WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES ALONE
• USE A SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH – ONE THAT IS GOOD FOR MEETING YOUR OBJECTIVES AND GOOD FOR
THE FARMER
• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS AND SECURE IMPLEMENTATION
FUNDING (RCPP, 319 FUNDS, ETC.)
• LOOK FOR STRONG LOCAL LEADERSHIP (SWCDS, AG RETAILERS, STRONG COMMUNITIES, ETC.)
• IDENTIFY LEADERS, SEEK THEIR OPINION AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY
• SEEK DIVERSITY OF IDEAS AND OPINIONS – INCLUDE DO NOT EXCLUDE