Community Navigator Program Models 

Stacy Beaugh1*, Emile Elias2, Carrie Padgett3, Esther Duke4 and Lisa Clark5 

 

1Strategic By Nature, Durango, CO; stacy@bestrategicbynature.com  

2Strategic By Nature, Fruita, CO; emile@bestrategicbynature.com  

3Harris Water/Southwestern Water Conservation District, Durango, CO; carrie@durangowater.com  

4Coalitions and Collaboratives, Denver, CO; esther.duke@co-co.org  

5Southwest Decision Resources, Tucson, AZ; lisa@swdresources.com  

 

There are numerous programs in the Southwest that are working to accelerate watershed project funding and implementation. These “Community Navigator” programs are helping watershed groups and other local organizations navigate to funding and other supports to build funding, capacity and resources that can help with projects. Examples include:  

  • Rio Grande Aquatic Navigator Network 

  • SW Water Conservation Infrastructure Partnership 

  • Coalitions and Collaboratives & U.S. Forest Service Community Navigator invited) 

  • AZ Cross Watershed Network 

 

The session will share lessons, opportunities, and challenges from these models, and invite participants to explore how community navigators and related tools can accelerate watershed projects, close resource gaps, and strengthen local capacity. The session will help attendees to:  

  • Learn what a “Community Navigator” is, their scale, and how they can add value to your watershed work. 

  • Engage with various resources, models and tools employed by Community Navigators and others that can advance watershed projects and planning.  

  • Share ideas on gaps and other existing tools to support projects in your region.