BLM-(Arizona), CCS Las Cienegas NCA Outreach, Engagement and Education (TFO)

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Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: a) The Cienega Watershed Partnership Oral History Work Group (7 partners including BLM) began in 2011 to inventory, transfer to digital media, and disseminate information from existing oral histories. This work was largely completed in 2013. A second work group, Back Then, formed to look at how oral histories and other historical information aided understanding the events and practices that shaped current landscapes. Back Then has offered 3 internships for graduates studying library science to gather additional oral histories. The Cienega Watershed Timeline Project began in 2012 through a shared history exercise. An interactive timeline with 500 events now exist but is not as public-friendly as needed for many teachers, students, general public, or visitors. b) Public engagement at Las Cienegas began in 1995 and continues to be a major component of successful management. The Biological Planning field program supports implementation of the Las Cienegas Resource Management Plan (RMP) and associated adaptive management process. Science on the Sonoita Plain began as a part of the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership and continues to involve about 100 partners and members of the public in an annual symposium. In 2015, the 6th Symposium will focus on water and general science for the area. The State of the Workshop has been held 6 times. State of Cienega Watershed 2015 focuses on cross-jurisdictional monitoring in the watershed. Recommendations will be developed on how to identify a few key indicators of watershed health that partners, agencies and the public can collect and measure. c) The Youth Engaged Stewardship (YES!) program developed starting in 2011, through a collaboration of environmental and educational organizations, to involve youth in watershed improvement projects on public land. Professional researchers, scientists and land managers from BLM, the Cienega Watershed Partnership, Ironwood Tree Experience (formerly Prescott College Program), and the Empire High School (Vail School District) developed and manage the program. YES! 2012 focused on the Cottonwood Tank site; YES! 2013 at the Cieneguita wetlands; and YES! 2014 youth completed two projects: improving wetland re-vegetation project around 3 Cieneguita ponds and restoration at the Gardner Canyon Sacaton site. YES! Has been supported by additional partners providing expertise or funding including: The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Game and Fish, Freeport-McMoRan Mining, Summit Hut, The National Park Service, University of Arizona, and the BLM. d) Educational outreach has developed at Las Cienegas through a number of partners who offer awareness programs or events. This project focuses on working directly with teachers to respond to their requests for classroom assistance, materials and developing field opportunities. Efforts began in 2013 at schools and now include multiple districts whose teachers request this assistance. b. Objectives: The principle purpose is to continue to support a long history of public involvement at Las Cienegas NCA through a variety of outreach, engagement and education projects. The objective is to make a positive impact on the Las Cienegas NCA landscape and its resources through engaging scientists, youth, the general public, teachers/educators, and volunteers. Main features of this project: 1. Disseminate the most current science and management information through newsletters, workshops and symposia, and through web postings 2. Provide channels to develop guidelines and resolutions to current issues through engaging partners and the public. 3. Collect and disseminate oral histories and shared histories which aid in understanding past and present situations, connect Las Cienegas NCA to surrounding communities, and provide rich materials for environmental and heritage education 4. Engage youth at Las Cienegas through student-driven field experience, which will develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills in managing and restoring public lands 5. Connect local educators/teachers to the resources and opportunities at Las Cienegas NCA through maintaining a web site, and by providing in-the-classroom assistance and programs. Provide outreach materials such as interpretive signs, digital links and materials, proceedings

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