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Housatonic Valley Association – https://hvatoday.org

· Below is the paragraph I have done for HVA’s competitors, along with feedback from my professor. However, with the feedback I have got back it looks like the competitors that were chosen are not actual competitors but are collaborators. Therefore, it needs to be redone.

· Identify competitors along with the strengths and what the competition is.

· Cite using APA format

· One competitor I think might work is Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy

Professors feedback:

· “You are calling the Collaborators Competitors.”

· “These are the other orgs that they work with to secure land, etc.”

· “Identify the Competition. Look at the rubric – what other choices do users have?”

Competitors – “Needs to be redone. “

The major competitors of the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) are Roaring Fork Conservancy, Friends of Gualala River, Haw River Assembly, Pacific Rivers Council, Green Valleys Watershed Association, and Coosa River Basin Initiative. The strength of the Roaring Fork Conservancy is that it is one of the biggest watershed organizations in Colorado. Because of this it is able to serve both visitors and residents throughout the Roaring Fork Valley via schools and community-based watershed education programs. They also promote watershed science & policy projects which include regional watershed planning, stream management, and water resource policy initiatives. The strength of Friends of Gualala River is that it remains an independent not-for-profit, grassroots watershed protection organization. Friends of Gualala river is also capable of sharing shared concerns related to research about the welfare of the Gualala River, its habit and its estuary. Another strength it has is that it set the goal of protecting the Gualala River watershed as well as the species residing within it. It has received acknowledgment from the IRS as an autonomous 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

The strength of the Haw River Assembly is that it has worked as an advocate and has managed to stop pollution via its Haw Riverkeeper. The River Assembly is also building a watershed community that has supported clean water via its effective outreach, education and water quality monitoring programs. It has effective programs that have helped drive its mission of promoting environmental awareness, conservation, as well as pollution deterrence. The Assembly notably has given people the desirable knowledge and tools needed to become effective river’s guardians. It remains dedicated to the goals of environmental justice as well as equality for everyone in its watershed. It is a strong organization and its mission to safeguard water remains successful because its organization represents the full diversity of individuals residing in its watershed. It has a Muddy Water Watch project which has allowed volunteers to effectively document sediment pollution as well as send documentation straight to the authorities within the area. This project has allowed trained volunteers to effectively monitor water qualities four times a year thereupon reporting to state regulatory agencies (Hanlon, 2017). The strength of the Pacific Rivers Council is that it has set and followed its mission of protecting and restoring rivers, its watershed, and native the species that thrive along these areas. It is unique amongst other conservation groups in its compliance with a comprehensive watershed approach to the river besides aquatic species conservation.

This is due to its basic principle of “protecting the best, restoring the rest” as well as its stress on the need for the systematic safeguard of a higher quality habitat.

The strength of the Green Valleys Watershed Association is that it has the best strategy that focuses on the health of its watersheds. Another strength is that it has built a desirable collaboration with citizen groups, other not-for-profit organizations, and local governments. The Association seeks to effectively undertake its mission via education, advocacy, and science as well as stewardship. It’s mission has helped it foster awareness of the interdependence of its QoL alongside the health of its watersheds. It has a broad arrange of services and programs linked chiefly to environmental and watershed preservations. It also offers beneficial programs to children as well as adults via scout programs, schools, summer camps, and on-site programs. Further, it holds events associated with watersheds alongside the environment. It has a living lab for ecological issues, land stewardships and also sustainability studies. In conclusion, the HVA faces stiff competition from both private and public parks around the Housatonic Valley area and across the country. The public parks draw their strengths from government funding, greater accessibility and notoriety. Moreover, the CT parks Association draws strength from memberships, sponsorships, and its classes and workshops in the name of awareness creation. Further, the CT Forest as well as Park Association, offers memberships together with magazines and opportunities for people to volunteer. The CT land Conservation is competing by using several events that help create awareness of the need for protecting the environment.