North Coast Resource Partnership

Started in 2005, the NCRP is an innovative, partner-driven collaboration among Tribes, local government, watershed groups, and interested partners focused on healthy watersheds, safe and healthy communities, and economic vitality for the North Coast region. The NCRP region includes the homelands of North Coast Tribes, and all or part of seven North Coast counties (Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, and Sonoma). The map below shows the boundary of the North Coast Resource Partnership.

The mission of the NCRP is to enhance the watersheds and communities of the North Coast region through collaborative, multi-objective planning and project implementation led by Tribes and counties.

All NCRP actions and processes are guided by the following principles:

• Local leadership and governance – collaborative Tribal and county direction and decision making
• Transparency in all actions – meetings, decisions, planning, and project selection
• Local knowledge and local autonomy – one size does not fit all
• Focus on common ground for the enhancement of all communities and watersheds
• Equity and fairness in all decisions and actions
• Acknowledge Tribes as sovereign nations and support meaningful Tribal consultation
• Focus on increasing investments and quality of life in economically disadvantaged communities
• Use the best available information, science, and data to prioritize investments
• Align with and synchronize Tribal, federal, state, and local priorities
• Integrate multiple goals and objectives into all activities
• All planning and capacity building focused on outcomes on the ground
• Attract and leverage funding for the region and use all funding effectively
• Communicate and amplify the importance of the North Coast region and the need for investment

1. Develop, collect, and analyze data at a variety of spatial scales to inform priority projects/actions 2. Engage with regional partners to inform high quality planning and implementation 3. Integrate Indigenous science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in collaboration with Tribes to incorporate these practices into North Coast projects and plans 4. Respect Tribal sovereignty, local autonomy, and local knowledge in NCRP planning and implementation 5. Work across jurisdictional boundaries to achieve common objectives effectively and efficiently

6. Conserve and restore salmonid habitats and ecosystems 7. Conserve, enhance, and restore watersheds and ecosystems that support biological diversity

8. Avoid emissions via land management and policies 9. Promote local energy independence, water/energy use efficiency, and infrastructure enhancements 10. Protect and enhance forest based carbon

11. Ensure water supply reliability and quality 12. Protect and enhance groundwater resources 13. Improve drinking water quality and water related infrastructure to protect public health 14. Protect and enhance watersheds and ecosystems that provide water quality and supply benefits

15. Address climate change and extreme event effects, impacts, and vulnerabilities

16. Document and share the sustainable economic benefits of working landscapes and natural areas 17. Ensure that disadvantaged and underrepresented communities benefit from initiatives 18. Prioritize plans, projects, and actions that result in long term sustainability of jobs & revenues

The NCRP Leadership Council consists of two Board of Supervisors' appointees and alternates from each of the seven counties and three Tribal representatives and alternates selected by the North Coast Tribes according to the “ Tribal Selection & Representation Process ” as posted on the NCRP website with related Tribal nomination and voting documents. The NCRP Leadership Council nominates and elects two Co-Chairs (one Tribal and one county) and two Vice-Chairs (one Tribal and one county) on an as-needed basis and each position is brought before the Leadership Council for reconsideration and appointment every two years. This group of Tribal and county appointees provides direction and ultimate oversight to the NCRP planning process. Decision-making is usually by consensus, with each member having one vote. When decisions cannot be reached by consensus, the majority opinion prevails. The NCRP Leadership Council is committed to transparency and inclusion, supporting input from stakeholders from throughout the region, as well as information sharing via the website and workshops. All meetings are noticed in advance, open to the public, and all meeting summaries and information are posted on the NCRP website. NCRP meetings and activities are in compliance with the Brown Act as well as the standards of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

All NCRP Leadership Council and their member agencies are required to be signatories to the Memorandum of Mutual Understandings (MoMU) and in accordance with the IRWM Program, are required to formally adopt the NCRP Plan by resolution. A listing of current Leadership Council members can be found at  https://northcoastresourcepartnership.org/partnership/. 

The NCRP Executive Committee is a standing committee and is comprised of the Leadership Council Co-Chairs (one Tribal & one county), Co-Vice-Chairs (one Tribal & one county), and two additional members (one Tribal & one county). The Leadership Council reconsiders the members’ appointment every two years or on an as-needed basis. The Executive Committee provides day‐to‐day leadership for the NCRP, providing guidance to staff, reviewing and signing letters of support, representing the NCRP with legislators and key agency partners, and making time‐sensitive decisions on behalf of the NCRP. Any time sensitive decisions made by the Executive Committee reflect previous Leadership Council direction and are consistent with Leadership Council approved goals and objectives. Decisions are made by unanimous or majority vote. When majority vote cannot be reached, the decision is brought before the full Leadership Council for consideration. Executive Committee decisions are reported via email or provided as an update to the full Leadership Council at their next quarterly NCRP meeting. A listing of current Leadership Council Executive Committee members can be found at  https://northcoastresourcepartnership.org/partnership/.  

The Technical Peer Review Committee (TPRC) is comprised of two technical & scientific staff (and alternates) appointed by Leadership Council members or the Board of Supervisors from each county, as well as Tribal representatives (and alternates) selected by the North Coast Tribes according to the “ Tribal Selection & Representation Process ” as posted on the NCRP website with related Tribal nomination and voting documents. The TPRC nominates and submits prospective Co-Chair nominees for Leadership Council selection and approval on an as-needed or biennial basis. The TPRC provides support to NCRP and the Leadership Council via the evaluation of projects and plan development. The TPRC works with NCRP staff to develop criteria and protocols for project evaluation and selection that are considered and approved by the Leadership Council. Expertise on the TPRC includes – but is not limited to - fisheries, traditional ecological knowledge, ecology, engineering, geology, agriculture, climate change, forest health, watershed planning and management, water infrastructure, and energy. A listing of current TPRC members can be found at  https://northcoastresourcepartnership.org/partnership/. 

The NCRP Leadership Council forms Ad Hoc Committees on an as-needed basis to address a short duration issue or topic. These committees are not subject to the Brown Act and are disbanded once the topic has been addressed and outcomes have been reported to the Leadership Council. NCRP Ad Hoc Committees must comprise less than a quorum of the Leadership Council and may include members of the Leadership Council and TPRC, as well as NCRP core staff and consultants. Ad Hoc Committees work closely with the NCRP staff team to advise and guide plans and criteria that will be considered by the Leadership Council.

​​The core NCRP staff team is currently comprised of representatives from Sonoma Water, Humboldt County, the California Indian Environmental Alliance, and West Coast Watershed. This team reports to the NCRP Leadership Council and works collaboratively with the Technical Peer Review Committee, Ad Hoc Committees, funding agencies, partners and the community. The NCRP staff team leads the day to day coordination of the NCRP, plans and implements NCRP strategies, manages consultants, represents the NCRP at meeting and events, and makes decisions on behalf of the NCRP that have been authorized by the Leadership Council.

Since the inception of the NCRP, substantial matching funds and allocation of staff resources have been provided by the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water). Sonoma Water supports the planning, outreach, legislative, and funding application elements on behalf of the NCRP and has contracted with West Coast Watershed to lead these efforts. Sonoma Water assigns staff as part of the core staff and consultant team to advise and coordinate on plan development, funding applications, meeting planning, and outreach.

In 2005, the Leadership Council unanimously approved the County of Humboldt to act as the regional applicant and Regional Manager of grant funds for the NCRP. To date the County of Humboldt has successfully managed over $98 million in grant funding for over 250 NCRP planning and implementation projects. The Regional Contract Management Team provides QA/QC on all invoices and progress reports submitted by sub-grantees prior to compiling regular grant progress reports and invoices to submit to the granting agency. The County of Humboldt NCRP team maintains auditable files and acts as the liaison between the project sponsors (sub-grantees, sub- contractors) and the granting agency to streamline communications. The County of Humboldt assigns staff to act as part of the core staff and consultant team to advise and coordinate on plan development, funding applications, meeting planning, and outreach. The County of Humboldt establishes and maintains risk management practices to protect the County and the NCRP from liability.

The NCRP relies on an array of highly qualified consultants to support regional planning and implementation efforts - some are long term consultants that play a foundational role in the ongoing functions and processes of the NCRP, while others are short term technical consultants hired for a specific need.

The  NCRP Policies and Procedures Handbook  – a “living document” – documents the approved institutional processes and protocols of the NCRP. Additional NCRP plans and resources can be found on the  NCRP website .