Challenge
The Gulf Coast Water Authority wanted to update its Drought Contingency Plan to better assess drought severity, plan for groundwater usage, lower water loss and incorporate standard planning elements. A previous effort to update the Plan faltered over penalty provisions. The challenge was to ensure support of the updating process from Water Authority customers so the resulting Plan would be ratified by the Authority’s Board of Directors.
Solution
Laura Raun Public Relations, as part of the LRE Water consultant team, LRPR facilitated a 40-member Drought Task Force representing GCWA customers and stakeholders whose purpose was to provide feedback and information on components of the Updated Plan. A series of eight meetings was organized to glean feedback on plan components - including drought monitoring, vulnerability assessment, mitigation actions and response actions.
The facilitation process included technical presentations, real-time gathering of data, immediate feedback by stakeholders, notation of items requiring followup and previews of next steps in the updating process.
The updated Drought Contingency Plan was approved by GCWA board of directors on Dec. 6, 2019.
Outcome
The updated Drought Contingency Plan was approved by the GCWA Board of Directors on Dec. 6, 2019.
