The agreement provides funding to the university of missouri

Specifically, the recipient will use a combination of geographical information systems (GIS) analysis and human dimensions methodologies (i.e., stakeholder meetings and focus group interviews) to develop a strategy for designing, evaluating, and prioritizing wetland establishment/reestablishment projects based on the unique geohydrologic, environmental, and and human characteristics of a watershed. Activities:the activities include: 1. Maintain communication with MDC and mdnr, and the nature conservancy and heartland conservation alliance, to convey information and seek feedback throughout project. 2. Perform a literature review of hydraulic, hydrologic, and human dimensions elements of wetlands preservation and restoration in urban areas. 3. Visit study area (blue river and little blue river watersheds) with partners. 4. Work with community partners to assess wetlands information needs for community engagement, integrating with partner efforts to date. 5. Prepare materials translating the results of CD97790701 (regarding GIS-based wetlands landscape and soils analyses) for a community audience. 6. Develop additional materials for community engagement as per results of task 4. 7. Conduct annual stakeholder meetings in the study area. 8. Develop a draft community engagement wetlands strategy. 9. Prepare qaqc / focus group recruitment and interview protocol, subject to approval by EPA and the MU institutional review board. 10. Recruit participants and conduct focus group interviews regarding the draft strategy (six groups, with 6-8 participants each in the blue river watershed). 11. Transcribe and analyze focus group interview data, relating to both the information collected and the efficacy of the collection process. 12. Revise the community engagement wetlands strategy. 13. Revise focus group interview protocol and receive approval as necessary. 14. Recruit participants and conduct focus group interviews regarding the revised strategy (six groups, with 6-8 participants each in the little blue river watershed). 15. Transcribe and analyze focus group interview data. 16. Finalize community engagement wetlands strategy. 17. Prepare an assessment of community preferences for wetland preservation/restoration activities, predicated on the assumption of sufficient community resources and share with community partners. 18. Present research findings one state conference (missouri natural resources conference) and one regional event (EPA region 7 wetlands program meeting). 19. Submit two papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals. 20. Develop guidance document for applying the GIS and human dimensions methodologies for strategic wetland establishment/RE-establishment developed in the project to other watersheds/regions. 21. Develop and present materials on wetland ecosystem services and becoming engaged in one's community at a mentoring session of the society of women engineers next (SWE next) program in kansas city, consisting of k-12 girls. 22. Prepare and submit reports to EPA (quarterly and final).subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: 1. Materials regarding wetland ecosystem services and GIS topographic and soils representations, to be used in the community engagement process. 2. A written community wetlands engagement strategy, integrating a technical GIS analysis protocol and a human dimensions protocol for community engagement. This strategy will build upon the wetland characteristics weighting system envisioned in CD97790701. 3. Demonstration of the community wetlands engagement strategy in the blue river and little blue river watersheds in the kansas city metro area. 4. Written guidance for use of the community wetlands engagement strategy in other watersheds throughout the region and nationally. This guidance will address the needs of b