Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 9:00 AM
118

Commissioners, developers and small fishes: building the framework of the Etowah HCP

Laurie A. Fowler and Seth Wenger. River Basin Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

The Etowah Aquatic Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) literally changes the rules of development in order to protect a handful of federally listed darters in the fastest growing counties in the U.S.  Eight counties, 21 cities and scores of developers and members of conservation organizations were involved in the development of the plan. What brought these diverse interests to the table in a region of the country where the Endangered Species Act hasn’t traditionally held much clout?  A long-standing partnership whereby University of Georgia graduate students in ecology, law, environmental design and other disciplines, provide expertise to local governments in the watershed, was instrumental in building initial trust and contacts and conducting initial research.  Linking HCP biodiversity goals with much more broadly-accepted goals of protecting water quality, water supply and quality of life helped motivate buy-in.  Finally, developing a governance and public involvement structure whereby local governments had ultimate ownership but all interested members of the community had a voice in the development of the HCP was critical to the five-year planning process.


Web Page: www.etowahhcp.org

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