The Ohio River Basin Alliance Who We Are and Where We’re Going Martin Hettel, Steering Committee Member.

The Ohio River Basin Alliance

Who We Are and Where We’re GoingMartin Hettel, Steering Committee Member

Group of over 200 representatives from over 100 state, local and federal agencies, industry, academia and not-for-profit organizations.

Our Vision is to support and implement integrated management of the Basin’s resources to achieve sustainable economic growth, ecological integrity and public safety.

Our Mission is to form a successful collaboration that will recommend strategies and coordinate actions to address complex water resource challenges and priorities with a unified voice.

What is the Alliance?

Leverage existing authorities, resources and capabilities

Capitalize on existing collaborations

Do not impede or infringe on the mission of any organization

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Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Determine Basin Priorities

Collaborate on Issues

Inform the Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus on Critical Issues

Develop Plans and Deliver Projects

ORBA’s 4 Main Goals Are…

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Goal 1: Determining Basin Priorities

The four working groups have been active both during and between ORBA conferences in determining their respective priorities Enterprise & Infrastructure – Kari Mackenbach,

Chair Restoration & Protection – John Stark, Chair Sustainable Growth & Competitiveness – Harry

Stone, Chair Water Management & Availability – John

Hoopingarner, Chair ALL stakeholders are encouraged to

participate

Goal 2: Get Stakeholders to Discuss and Collaborate on Issues

Six Conferences since October 2009 Combined Attendance of 549 Over 100 Organizations have participated

Representing federal, regional, state, local & private organizations: USACE, USEPA, USGS, NSF, NOAA, NWS, USFWS, USDA, NPS, USMA, USCG, ORSANCO, TVA, TNC, ORBCRE, state agencies (15), conservation districts (4), universities (4), energy companies (4), and other organizations (9)

Goal 3: Informing the Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus

6 Congressional Briefings since October 20091. August 2010, Charleston, WV2. February 2011, Charleston, WV3. March 2011, Washington, DC4. April 2011, Washington, DC5. September 2011 Huntington, WV6. March 2012, Washington, DC

Goal 4: Developing/Delivering Projects

December 2011 – TNC and USACE Great Lakes and Ohio River Division sign Agreement to share information on biological resources in the basin

January 2012 – ORBA members support the Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership on the aquatic habitat assessment report

March 2012 – USGS/USACE/MWCD working together to install new stream gage on Ohio River at Marietta

April 2012 – ORBA/Marshall University receives $200k from Institute of Water Resources to conduct pilot study on how climate change will impact the Ohio River Basin

Steering Committee Carolyn Hefner, WVCA Jessica Fox, EPRI Marty Hettel, AEP Kari Mackenbach, URS Fred Nyhuis, Marathon Jerry Shulte, ORSANCO Dr. Charles Somerville,

MU Mike Steinmaus, AEEP Jerry Sutphin, Historian

Working GroupsWater Availability & Management

John Hoopingarner, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District

Restoration & Protection John Stark, The Nature Conservancy

Sustainable Growth & Competitiveness

Dr. Harry Stone, Battelle

Enterprise & Infrastructure Kari Mackenbach, URS Consultants,

Inc.

Ohio River Basin Alliance Structure

Purpose: Communicate on water resources in the Ohio River Basin by identifying main issues that resonate with the entire Alliance

Where we are going?

Summary

ORBA has made progress in:• Determining basin priorities.• Gathering stakeholders for discussion &

collaboration.• Information source for the ORB Congressional

Caucus.• Developing and delivering projects.• www.ohioriverbasin.org