Background
The Upper and Middle James Riparian Consortium (the Consortium) is a network of partners working together strategically and collaboratively to achieve their goals in riparian buffer implementation in order to improve water quality within the James River watershed. The Consortium aims to align partners to facilitate water quality improvements through two major objectives: formalize a Middle and Upper James Riparian Consortium and coordinate outreach and targeting for project implementation around five areas of focus: Riparian forest buffers; Agricultural infrastructure (ie, fencing); Stream restoration; Wildlife habitat as well as Buffer protection, easements, and maintenance. James River Association (JRA) acts as the Consortium convener, building from successful partnerships and increasing capacity for collaborative implementation. Dialogue + Design Associates serves as the Consortium facilitator. Partnerships will continue to evolve and expand.
Engagement Process
Dialogue + Design Associates serve as the Consortium facilitators by building relationships between all Consortium partners and offering project support and leadership. At the beginning of the project in 2019, D+D conducted a series of stakeholder interviews and produced a Key Issues Report which helped identify the core needs, challenges, and opportunities for the Consortium. D+D organizes, facilitates, and provides meeting summaries and action items for bi-weekly planning team calls, monthly Steering Committee meetings, and full Consortium meetings and events, whether virtual or in-person. D+D also produces supporting material for the Consortium such as the Guiding Document to outline the goals and structure of the Consortium and monthly newsletters. A one page summary of the Consortium can be accessed here.
Website: www.jamesriverconsortium.org