Current Partnerships
DER is currently supporting three Partnerships as part of the Regional Restoration Partnerships Program:
- Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership
- lead organization: Housatonic Valley Association
- core partners: Hoosic River Watershed Association, Farmington River Watershed Association, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Trout Unlimited, and The Nature Conservancy
- location: Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds
- Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership
- lead organization: Buzzards Bay Coalition
- location: Buzzards Bay region
- Merrimack Restoration Partnership
- lead organization: Merrimack River Watershed Council
- core partners: Nashua River Watershed Association, OARS, Groundwork Lawrence, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, and Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust
- location: Merrimack River watershed
Partnerships as Restoration Resources
Partnerships are restoration resources for the communities in their regions. Each Partnership is actively advancing locally-led projects focused on regional restoration needs. The Partnership’s success is a result of regional coalition building and tapping into local knowledge, understanding that identifying both ecological benefits and community benefits are critical to advancing projects which build community and ecological resilience.
Each Partnership is led and organized by one “Lead Partnership Sponsor.” With support from DER, each Lead Partnership Sponsor coordinates Partnership activities and works collaboratively with Core Partners and others (such as municipalities and landowners) who bring opportunities to leverage external funding, increase restoration capacity, and collaborate and learn from each other. Learn more about each Partnership by visiting the individual Partnership webpages linked above!
Partnerships Stages
DER provides support through three key stages: Catalyst, Capacity and Action, and Leadership. This staged approach allows DER to meet partners where they are and and deliver the level of support they need to progress to the next stage. Over time, it fosters growth and independence, with funding typically building in the early years and tapers as partnerships mature. Program years and funding levels reflect a typical scenario, but may vary based on funding availability and the pace of Partnership development.
Stage 1: Catalyst
Planning and Partnership Building: An early stage focused on building an enduring Partnership foundation.
Program Year: Year 1, typically
Funding: $30,000 - $100,000
Stage 2: Capacity & Action
Restoration Implementation: A mid-development stage where Partnerships build on their foundation and turn plans into action. At this stage, Partnerships become regional hubs for collaboration and innovation, driving real, on-the-ground restoration results.
Program Year: Year 2-6, typically
Funding: $100,000-$200,000
Stage 3: Leadership
Regional Restoration Leader: At this advanced stage, Partnerships take on a leading role in restoring ecosystems across their regions. Building on a strong foundation and years of successful projects, they continue to grow, innovate, and collaborate. Partnerships at this stage have diverse funding sources to support their work, with less need for ongoing DER investment.
Program Year: Year 7+, typically
Funding: $30,000 - $60,000