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"NRS strives to protect and restore community and watershed health"

About Us

Contents:
  1. Mission
  2. NRS Operating Culture
  3. Facilitating Cooperation
  4. Education, Community Involvement, and Information Exchange
  5. Working with Community and Government Leaders
  6. New Contracting Models
  7. Program Areas and Service Offered

Mission

Because natural and human communities of the North Coast are inextricably linked, and the sustainability of both is inter-dependent, NRS strives to protect and restore community and watershed health.

NRS Operating Culture

caption NRS works to strengthen ecosystem and community integrity. Each NRS project includes scientific, economic, social, and environmental justice considerations which are incorporated into its planning, design, and implementation. Much of NRS’ strength is based on taking a ‘big picture’ approach, from developing the project vision through planning, implementation, and evaluation. NRS meets community needs not fully addressed by government (local to federal), grassroots, or private business sectors, often ‘filling the gaps’.

Facilitating Cooperation

NRS is committed to bringing a wide range of people and interests together to resolve issues that impact natural resources and community sustainability in the region. Staff members work to prevent polarization and support the middle ground actively seeking and involving diverse interest groups that do not traditionally work together. NRS has developed a reputation for establishing partnerships and broad-based coalitions. Our ability to assist and provide consistent creativity, support, and enthusiasm for community projects has shown the government and community NRS’ commitment to a strong collaborative approach to resolving issues facing our region. NRS is strengthening the capacity of restoration practitioners and communities locally and across the nation to solve natural resource and economic challenges in innovative ways. 

Education, Community Involvement, and Information Exchange

NRS believes in the involvement of community members and other stakeholders in the vision, planning, design and construction phases of projects – an approach that ensures ongoing ‘ownership’ and improves the success of any effort. Components of NRS projects include: facilitating information exchange, soliciting and respecting a diversity of viewpoints, and encouraging innovative problem-solving. NRS organizes very inclusive community outreach events and education programs that range from:

    * Volunteer trail building events to project input workshops
    * Multi-year K-12 to university-level education projects
    * Landowner workshops to agency trainings
    * Development and coordination of watershed monitoring programs

IIn addition, NRS gathers and shares new information and models from out of the area to benefit and strengthen the local community and to speed the learning process and integration of useful information. Most NRS projects involve a variety of individuals who are most experienced in the given field, to ensure that NRS staff, involved stakeholders, and the community benefit from every project.

Working with Community and Government Leaders

Caption NRS is committed to building collaborative partnerships with government and community leaders to conceptualize, plan and implement projects. NRS’ diverse and collective knowledge, a foundation of two decades of stable and consistent focus, augments government efforts with flexibility, extending government’s capabilities and adding creativity. As a result, NRS has established a reputation that has often made NRS a highly sought-after partner. NRS’ ability to assist and provide consistent creativity, support, and enthusiasm for community projects has shown government and the community our commitment to a strong collaborative approach to resolve issues facing our region.

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New Contracting Models

NRS is strengthening the capacity of restoration practitioners and communities locally, in northern California, and across the nation to solve natural resource and economic challenges in innovative ways. Project strategies are holistic, adaptive, and evolve quickly. NRS is willing to employ, and often innovate, new concepts, models, and practices – and is also willing to search for creative ways to fund these innovative efforts. Successful local models of contracting for natural resource management and restoration projects are being shared at a regional and national scale. The partnerships created through these contracting models are based on collaborative and ‘best value’ work evolving ‘low-bid’ systems to produce more reliable and sustainable results for our communities and watersheds.

 

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Program Areas

NRS develops and implements projects in the following four areas through grant and contract work:

Construction Department

The NRS construction department implements projects in two primary categories: watershed restoration and public access facilities, primarily trails. The program has several goals: 1) to restore watersheds in north-western California; 2) to provide employment and training opportunities in watershed restoration; 3) to construct appropriately designed and situated trails and related facilities for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians in urban, rural, and back-country settings. One basic principle behind the construction division is that if we restore our impaired watersheds to a state of health, and we apply stewardship principles to watershed management, we can use our natural resources for the benefit of humans while preserving water quality, fisheries, wildlife, and aesthetic values.

CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT SERVICES OFFERED:

For NRS, watershed planning and assessment means working with all interested stakeholders in the watersheds of California’s north coast region to find common solutions to water quality and salmonid habitat problems while balancing socio-economic needs and environmental quality. NRS uses the best science and practices available including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), surveying, and water quality monitoring; along with the coordination of resource interests, regulators, and community members. Watershed planning and assessment at NRS is collaborative, involving as many stakeholders as possible, and solution oriented, focused on getting projects to the implementation stage.

WATERSHED PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES OFFERED:

NRS initiates or pursues a variety of projects that promote non-motorized transportation and recreation options for residents of and visitors to northwestern California. Community members, like others around the nation, are asking for improvements to street environments and for development of multi-use trails on a broad scale to accommodate more active lifestyles, healthier choices, and mobility for people of all ages and abilities. NRS encourages and assists local, regional and state government agencies and supports grassroots organizations in their efforts to promote development of facilities and policies that provide more opportunities for human-scale transportation and recreation.

ACTIVE LIVING SERVICES OFFERED

The NRS Education and Interpretation Program strives to positively influence health- and environment-related decision-making, impart natural resource related information, foster communication and collaboration, and provide opportunities for participatory and field-based learning. Education efforts are widespread, reaching communities locally and nationwide, including K-12 classrooms, community groups, and the greater public. Education techniques include presentations, community forums, public events, and interpretive signing. NRS staff facilitate trainings nationwide for interested groups and individuals on a variety of topics, including project development and implementation, community based natural resource management, and collaborative partnerships. NRS provides technical assistance to watershed groups accross the US on grant writing , administrative capacity, and project development.

EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES OFFERED

 

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