Measuring Success and Monitoring Progress
 
 

The objectives, vision, strategies, and action plans only set the stage for the future of the Mid-Bald Eagle Watershed. The important work is yet to be done. This undertaking will require a large cast of characters with talents from all walks of life. The region will need people to mobilize and encourage, to direct and lead, to train and educate, to carry out and complete, and to celebrate and acclaim.

A Checklist of Sustainable Indicators

Measuring success is not always an easy task. Many of the quality of life ideas that are expressed in the vision are not measurable; however, the region should measure achievement where success can be quantified. The sustainable indicators provide the region with a measurable sense of accomplishment (specific indicators are provided for each strategy).
 

Indicators of Working Together

• Number of multi-municipal planning studies and/or projects completed

• Attendance at training sessions or educational forums and the number of municipalities represented at each

• Number of municipalities with designated growth and rural resource areas

• Number of municipalities with future land use scenarios based on the Vision 2020 Land Use Matrix

• Number of land use and transportation master plans developed for the interchange areas

• Number of municipalities with land use ordinances that implement the designated growth and rural resource areas and future land use scenario

• Amount of land being developed within the growth areas by land use type: residential / nonresidential (mechanism to monitor growth will be the growth tracking program, baseline data is prepared after growth area delineation – see Growth Area and Rural Area Delineation)

• Amount of land being developed within the rural resource areas by land use type: residential / nonresidential (mechanism to monitor growth will be the growth tracking program; baseline data is prepared after growth area delineation – see Growth Area and Rural Area Delineation)

• Number of sustainable development models incorporated into local ordinances

• Number of sustainable developments built

Economic indicators for villages, downtowns, or main streets

• Increases in sales and property values

• Number of new or expanded businesses and net new jobs in the retail and service sectors

• Increases in sales tax revenues

• Number of jobs created in desired sectors of the economy

• Average wage of new jobs

• Unemployment rate

• Number of new business start-ups in desired sectors of the economy

• Investments in business expansion

• Number of reuse / redevelopment projects

• Miles of communication networks by type

• Percentage of region with service access

• Number of municipalities that have addressed communication facilities in designated growth areas

• Number of visitors in general

• Number of visitors at specific sites

• Hotel occupancy

• Number of jobs created in tourism services

• New grants for specific tourism venues

• New interpretive programs or packages

• Number of jobs created in agricultural sectors

• Average agricultural wage for new jobs

• Business start-ups on farms

• Investment in agricultural expansion

• Agricultural productivity

• Number of municipalities with a local functional roadway classification system based on 2025 projections and municipal and county level cooperation

• Number of municipalities with a revised local functional transportation system based on a region-wide 50-year planning process

• Number of municipalities that have addressed roadway improvements in designated growth areas

• Level of service at key intersections

• Accident data on key corridors and at key intersections

• Number of miles of highway with context sensitive design modifications

• Number of traffic calming measures employed

• Traffic counts, including trucks on roadways targeted for traffic calming

• Vehicle speeds on roadways targeted for traffic calming

• Number of transit riders

• Cost of transit per rider

• Number of park and ride lots

• Space utilization at park and ride lots

• Number of other transit alternatives, in addition to buses

• Number of municipalities in the region who have adopted an open space plan

• Amount of public funds allocated to open space preservation

• Number of municipalities in the region who have completed a visual resource assessment inventory and analysis

• Number of municipalities in the region who are working with the county to develop critical lands analysis mapping

• Total and per capita water consumption

• Stream temperature

• Stream flows

• Groundwater levels

• Dissolved oxygen measurements

• Nitrate concentrations

• Groundwater quality as measured by VOC and nitrate concentrations in public wells

• Total percent impervious cover reported by subwatershed

• Number of organizations in the region with IS014001 certification

• Number of organizations in the region with implemented EMS programs

• Number of organizations participating in the P3 Network

• Number of ozone action days per year

The sustainable indicators will assist the region in monitoring progress.

The plan suggests that a Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) be commissioned by the Centre County Board of Commissioners.

Responsibilities of the RCC will be to:

• pilot the plan through municipalities,
• monitor the completion of municipal action plans,
• track progress, and
• measure success.

Staying Focused

The plan outlines a role for every individual, municipality, organization, and agency, from providing support to political leaders and regional efforts to actually providing the organizational, financial, and educational support to move the vision forward.

The task before the region is not easy, but with a willingness to establish a united front and stay focused, the dreams of today can become the realities of tomorrow and a brighter future for the Mid-Bald Eagle Watershed.