How to Read This Map

River Network’s Organizational Assessment Tool collected data from non-profits working on water issues throughout the region. We collected data on each organization’s use of 13 pre-determined best management practices. This data was scored on a Yes/No or Not Applicable basis, and a single point allocated for each positive response. Thus, if a group has all 13 practices in place they are assigned a maximum score of 13.

We also asked groups to rate their readiness for public engagement using a scale of 1-4. If they had strong agreement with a statement they ranked it 4, conversely strong disagreement elicited a value of 1. The maximum cumulative score of these five questions would have been 20 points.

The five statements to determine preparedness for public engagement are:

1. Participates in coalitions and partners with key stakeholders that help them reach particular policy goals.
2. Active participant in settings where public policy is discussed and local decisions are made related to water.
3. Takes time to identify and implement concrete tactics and strategies to help them reach their particular policy goals.
4. Communicates effectively with media and uses a variety of mechanisms to promote their policy or advocacy goals. (e.g. earned media, social media, direct outreach).
5. Raises a diverse array of financial resources to support their engagement in policy making or advocacy.

A color-graded scale was produced for the map using the resulting data sets. The darkest colors indicate highest capacity/level of public engagement readiness.

FrackTracker provided numerous data layers representing important threats to Great Lakes waters that include (but are not limited to):  confined animal feeding operations, oil and gas extraction, transportation and storage facilities, combined sewer overflows, and mining operations.