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Takeaways From The Takeaways From The TTribal ribal UUtility tility GGovernance Programovernance Program

Training And Technical Assistance Training And Technical Assistance To Tribally-Owned & Operated Water SystemsTo Tribally-Owned & Operated Water Systems

Steve Wilson, Deb Patton, Brian Bennon, Steve Wilson, Deb Patton, Brian Bennon, Dave Harvey, & Jennifer WilsonDave Harvey, & Jennifer Wilson

EPA GrantEPA Grant

• $500K Grant To RCAP $500K Grant To RCAP

• Focus On EPA Regions 6, 8, And 9Focus On EPA Regions 6, 8, And 9

• 1 Year - Sept 2012 Thru Aug 20131 Year - Sept 2012 Thru Aug 2013

• Goal To Help Systems Achieve AndGoal To Help Systems Achieve And Maintain Compliance With The SDWAMaintain Compliance With The SDWA

• Program Based On RCAC TUG ManualProgram Based On RCAC TUG Manual

ProgramProgram

• Develop NAWMA Groups Develop NAWMA Groups

• Set Up Coordinated Meetings (3)Set Up Coordinated Meetings (3)

• Curriculum Based on TUG Manual Curriculum Based on TUG Manual Developed By RCACDeveloped By RCAC

• Financial And Managerial CapacityFinancial And Managerial Capacity

• ITCA Utility Management ITCA Utility Management CertificationCertification

• RCAC Providing Onsite Assistance (IHS)RCAC Providing Onsite Assistance (IHS)

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PartnersPartners

Partner RolesPartner Roles

• RCAP – Grantee, Reports To USEPA RCAP – Grantee, Reports To USEPA

• RCAC – Lead, Program DevelopmentRCAC – Lead, Program Development

• CRG – Region 6 ImplementationCRG – Region 6 Implementation

• ITCA – Effective Utility Management ITCA – Effective Utility Management Certification, EPA RecognizedCertification, EPA Recognized

• SmallWaterSupply.org – Marketing, SmallWaterSupply.org – Marketing, Newsletter, Website, Contact ManagerNewsletter, Website, Contact Manager

The TUG ManualThe TUG Manual• Utility ManagementUtility Management• Board IssuesBoard Issues• PersonnelPersonnel• Customers Customers

• Financial ManagementFinancial Management• BudgetsBudgets• Rate SettingRate Setting• Capital Improvement Capital Improvement

• Much MoreMuch More

Native American Water Masters Native American Water Masters Associations (NAWMA)Associations (NAWMA)

• RCAC Had 2 Successful Groups In Place RCAC Had 2 Successful Groups In Place

• Nine More Added, Now ElevenNine More Added, Now ElevenCalifornia (3)California (3) Arizona (2)Arizona (2)MontanaMontana NevadaNevadaNew MexicoNew Mexico OklahomaOklahomaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota South DakotaSouth Dakota

• 2 Hours of TUG Training (Blackboard)2 Hours of TUG Training (Blackboard)

• Additional Topics Specific For GroupAdditional Topics Specific For Group

Northern CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaNAWMA MeetingNAWMA Meeting

Tribal System ChallengesTribal System Challenges

• Conducted A Survey Thru NewsletterConducted A Survey Thru Newsletter

• Asked Them To Identify Their Asked Them To Identify Their Challenges, Anonymous ResponsesChallenges, Anonymous Responses

• Found Many Similarities To Non-Tribal Found Many Similarities To Non-Tribal Small Systems IssuesSmall Systems Issues

• Also Found Tribal Systems Face Some Also Found Tribal Systems Face Some Unique ChallengesUnique Challenges

Tribal-Specific IssuesTribal-Specific Issues

• Remoteness And IsolationRemoteness And Isolation• Seclusion From Non-Tribal ResourcesSeclusion From Non-Tribal Resources• Ability To Work With State EntitiesAbility To Work With State Entities

• Support From Tribal GovernmentSupport From Tribal Government• Leaders Understanding NeedsLeaders Understanding Needs• Independent Decision MakingIndependent Decision Making• Patronage JobsPatronage Jobs

Small System IssuesSmall System Issues

• Support From Decision MakersSupport From Decision Makers• Need For Qualified PersonnelNeed For Qualified Personnel• Poor PayPoor Pay• Lack Of Interest Lack Of Interest

• FundingFunding• Small Size Limits Funds AvailableSmall Size Limits Funds Available• Charging Proper RatesCharging Proper Rates• O & M, As Well As UpgradesO & M, As Well As Upgrades

A Model For Small SystemsA Model For Small Systems

• What Have NAWMAs Taught Us?What Have NAWMAs Taught Us?• Everyone Came Back And Told OthersEveryone Came Back And Told Others• Meetings Fill An Operator NeedMeetings Fill An Operator Need• Attendees Like The Face-To-FaceAttendees Like The Face-To-Face• Relationships Build And GrowRelationships Build And Grow

• What About the Program?What About the Program?• Attendees Have A VoiceAttendees Have A Voice• Helps To Walk In Each Others ShoesHelps To Walk In Each Others Shoes• Some Online Training OKSome Online Training OK

Why It WorksWhy It Works

• More Open To Discussing With PeersMore Open To Discussing With Peers

• Like Getting Together To Share InfoLike Getting Together To Share Info

• Provide Time For Group To InteractProvide Time For Group To Interact

• Many Like Issues And ChallengesMany Like Issues And Challenges

• Attendee Driven, Have Say In ProgramAttendee Driven, Have Say In Program

• A Place To Solve Real ProblemsA Place To Solve Real Problems

• Understand How Isolated It Can BeUnderstand How Isolated It Can Be

SuccessesSuccesses

• Possible Tribal WARN DevelopmentPossible Tribal WARN Development

• Already Discussions Of How To Already Discussions Of How To Maintain Once Grant EndsMaintain Once Grant Ends

• Relationships Are Being Built And Relationships Are Being Built And Expanded Outside Of MeetingsExpanded Outside Of Meetings• Sharing EquipmentSharing Equipment• Providing Assistance/ExpertiseProviding Assistance/Expertise

• Expanding/Inviting Other ParticipantsExpanding/Inviting Other Participants

Thanks For Providing InputThanks For Providing Input

• Callie McIntosh, RCAC – MontanaCallie McIntosh, RCAC – Montana

• Stevan Palmer, RCAC – NevadaStevan Palmer, RCAC – Nevada

• Tyler Walls, ITCA – ArizonaTyler Walls, ITCA – Arizona

• Ron Sundberg, RCAC – CaliforniaRon Sundberg, RCAC – California

• Dave Wallace, RCAC - CaliforniaDave Wallace, RCAC - California

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Questions?Questions?