A presentation about nurturing and sustaining public support in tidal restoration. Presented by Jeremy Bell, restoration ecologist from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2012 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakers

1. Nurturing and Sustaining Public
Support in Tidal Restoration
Jeremy M. Bell
Buzzards Bay Coalition
2012 Decision Makers Workshop Series

2. Agenda
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Lessons learned
Why
When
How
Questions

3. Why do outreach?
• If project is on public land, outreach is a must
(government transparency)
• Can serve to educate the public on value of
habitat being restored
• Will help to identify issues that may come up
during permit process.
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4. When is the right time?
• Town buy-in, local advocacy is key town
administrator or other decision maker
multiple town staff should be involved
• Right before permits are submitted is too late.
• Before data collection is too early.
• Best time is after some data collection, early
in feasibility study, possibly alternative
selected.

5. Data Needed
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Tides
Survey
Hydrologic modeling
Images

6. Issues Often Raised
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Flooding
Salinity intrusion
Safety
Sea level rise
Vegetation changes
Traffic issues
Water quality
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Smells
Loss of open water
Cost-benefit
Property rights
Rare species

7. Private Landowners
• Direct work on private property requires
signature of the landowner on NOI
• May also need Right of Entry

8. Find Your Audience
• Consider outreach
beyond local area for
projects with
potential regional
significance
• Try to anticipate key
issues of interest to
the community
• Invitations to key
stakeholders may be
worth the effort

9. After the Fact: Tell Your Story
• Outreach should continue after project is
complete
• Media follow-up
• Public presentations
• Awards
• Signage
• Education
• Monitoring

10. Questions?
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Jeremy Bell
617-921-6566
jeremy.bell@state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/der/index.htm