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Our Platform
Mission The mission of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance (“the Alliance”) is to protect, conserve and restore the water resources of the Hudson River Basin through collaborative outreach, education, networking, science, information sharing and technical assistance by and for the stakeholders of the region. Vision The Hudson River watershed will become a national model for clean water, healthy habitat and environmentally sustainable economic development through the collaborative efforts of a diverse array of stakeholders. Geographic Scope The Alliance is open to groups and individuals throughout the Hudson River Watershed from Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondacks to and including New York Harbor. Additionally, groups and individuals in adjacent watersheds that are hydrologically connected to the Hudson River watershed may also participate. Goals and Objectives The functions of the Alliance include education and outreach, networking and clearinghouse, research and translation, and consensus building. Education and Outreach: One of the critical functions of the Alliance is to build an educated water constituency through outreach and education programs. This will be achieved by developing conferences and seminars on various water issues, developing reference lists of best management practices, providing resources for decision-makers and watershed groups to encourage informed decisions, and providing general “how-to” support to individuals and groups working in the watershed. Networking and Clearinghouse: One of the key roles of the Alliance is to inform participants of who’s doing what, who has what information, and what resources each group can offer the Alliance, or its members. In its role as a clearinghouse the Alliance will inventory information, identify gaps in data, promote standardization of data, make information available in format that is useful, and develop multi-metric indices of watershed health. The networking function allows individual groups, agencies, and other partners to readily communicate in an open forum. This function will be supported by an email distribution list, which can be supplemented by postal mail to those not having email, a listserve discussion group, and a website. As a network, the Alliance will also identify the skills, services, and other contributions that each organization, agency, or individual can offer to the Alliance, and identify needs that Alliance members, or the Alliance as a whole, may be able to address. Research and Translation: The research and translation function of the Alliance may or may not include original research, but will include translation of current research under the Alliance’s educational and clearinghouse roles. Advocacy Policy: The Alliance will be comprised of a wide range of governmental agencies, research and educational institutions, environmental organizations, grassroots groups, and others. A central purpose of the Alliance is to create common ground among these diverse groups, and to avoid polarization. To this end, the Alliance will not participate in or take position on site-specific issues. Any actions taken or statements made by the Alliance must first be approved by the Board of Directors. Under no circumstances shall a person act in the name of the Alliance without prior approval. In addition, the Alliance will follow these specific guidelines:
The Alliance is a network of groups and individuals working on watershed issues in the Hudson River watershed, and those interested in helping with the protection of these resources, including ground water, lakes, ponds, wetlands, reservoirs, tributaries, and the mainstem Hudson, including New York Harbor. The Alliance is composed of member organizations and individuals that have submitted the Membership Form and agreed to this Platform. In addition, other interested parties who decline to become a member can be recognized as a Participating Organization. The Board of Directors will meet at least quarterly to coordinate and direct the activities and agenda of the HRWA. The Board of Directors is decision-making body for the Alliance. Specific guidelines for decision-making will be developed by the inaugural Board of Directors. Funding: The Alliance is funded by grants, contracts and contributions from member organizations and individuals in keeping with the Alliance mission and goals. The Alliance is a nonprofit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Sections |
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