Action Plan Components

Action Plans come in a variety of different forms, however, all good plans have certain components that effectively guide the work of watershed groups. They provide direction for watershed restoration and protection work, as well as a history of the watershed and the process in developing the plan.

The following components can be found in every effective action plan:

Purpose (Reason for creating the plan.)

Help your reader understand the motivation behind the development of the action plan. Describe the problems that will be addressed through implementation of the action plan.

Historical Background (A summary of the watershed and the council.)

Bring readers up to date on historical watershed conditions and explain how the council came into existence. Provide maps to help readers understand the scope of what the plan covers.

Present a synopsis of the steps taken to create the action plan. Identify who and what organizations were involved, describe any public events held to gather action plan data, and from where project funds came.

Summarize Action Plan (Give readers an easy to understand big picture.)

Provide an outline of what the plan entails. A compelling summary may cause readers and funders alike to read further and become involved in the action plan projects.

Acronyms (Abbreviated list of agencies and organizations.)

Acronyms are used so pervasively that remembering them all is difficult. Make reading the action plan easier with a list of acronyms and complete agency names.

Goals and Objectives (What is your group trying to achieve? Goals are general in nature while objectives are more specific and measurable.)

Consider addressing some of the following watershed characteristics and issues in your goals and objectives:

• Water Quality
• Water Quantity
• Groundwater
• Agriculture
• Timber
• Development
• Channel Habitat
• Soil
• Erosion
• Plants and Animals
• Fisheries
• Fish Passage
• Human Component
• Education and Outreach
• Cultural and Historical Resources
• Recreation
• Air Quality

Once the goals and objectives have been established it will be necessary to develop action items and enough detail to guide the actions of those involved in implementation.

Action Item Detail (Detail the people, money, and time component of each action item.)

• Describe the historical problem and expected solution(s) from implementation of each action item and how each fits into the larger plan.
• Tasks—briefly describe individual implementation steps.
• Lead Person or Entity—provide agency or organization names(s) and how they will work together.
• Resources and Funding—briefly describe the personnel, equipment, and funding requirements of the action item.
• Timeline and Implementation Responsibilities—provide a big picture chart (Gantt chart for example) illustrating time, people, and progress of project.

Prioritized Action Items (Provide a criteria based justification for your prioritization.)

List the council’s action items in order of priority necessary to meet its goals and objectives. Describe how each priority action items fits within the context of the larger plan. Limit the number of action items to a feasible and achievable number.

Monitoring and Evaluation (Regular follow-up to determine effectiveness of project.)

Describe the necessity and justification for monitoring and evaluation. Provide as much detail as possible about planned or existing monitoring efforts and how these efforts contribute to the overall success of the project.

Contributors, Partners, Technical Advisory Committee, and References (List and describe who was involved in the development of the action plan and in what way.)

Here is your opportunity to recognize those who contributed time, money, and skills to this effort. Recognition is an important part of keeping people involved in watershed restoration and protection efforts.

Relationship to Work Plan

In the same way that watershed groups connect people, so must action plans connect with other work plans within your organization. Show how your action plan is related to other plans thereby making the best use of time and resources.

Use the appendices to attach council information such as bylaws, charter, membership roster, and other important notations that support the action plan.