Charting the District’s Course - Planning Strategies
Planning Strategies
1. Resource assessment
UACD, UDAF and NRCS worked together in 2005 and again in 2011 to produce the Utah Resource Assessment. This is an important first step in the planning process. Districts must have a good feel for where they are and what the problems are before they can determine what to do. The resource assessment outlines information about the natural resource needs and concerns in the district and summarizes the board's priority issues.
2. Strategic (long-range) plan
District leaders must paint the vision, mission and direction of the district. Once the resource assessment is done, work can begin on the strategic plan using the issues prioritized as most important.
This should be captured in a written long range plan. The strategic plan provides clear goals and objectives to be attained within a five-year time frame. Strategic plans are focused, detailed and clear about what is to be done, who is involved, when each step is to be performed and how the plan will be evaluated. Plans must include a mission statement (or purpose); goals; objectives; and strategies (or action items). A strategic plan's may look like this:
There is only one mission statement. However, there may be one or more goals, one or more objectives to meet each goal, one or more action items to satisfy each objective. Strategic plans usually cover a period no longer than five years. District strategic plans should contain the list of prioritized issues from the resource assessment.
3. Annual plan of work
The annual plan of work is critical to the success of the district. This plan should be looked at often and should be the guide to daily activity. Basically, the district's strategic plan is broken down into annual segments, which are readily identifiable and guide the district in its day-to-day operations. An annual plan of work includes:
- A list of key issues and goals
- Activities to be completed under each goal
- Timelines and responsible people who will complete the work (be specific)
- A review or evaluation process
- Example:
- Goal: the Wasatch Conservation District will work to successfully implement the Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project.
- Action item 1: Provide overall direction and technical support to irrigation companies in planning for irrigation conservation.
- Action item 2: Actively support the PL-566 Tri-Valley Watershed project.
- Action item 3: Strengthen the administrative and technical capabilities of the Wasatch SCD.
- Action item 4: Implement an effective irrigation water management plan with each of the irrigation companies in the district.
