Establishment of Measurable Goals Sample Clauses

Establishment of Measurable Goals. The plan must contain measurable goals, sometimes called objectives in planning, to address the priority issues. Measurable goals articulate what the planning partners want to achieve and allow for future evaluation of progress. A useful method for assessing if a goal is measureable is to ask the question for each goal: “will we be able to measure / show / report that we have been successful in achieving this goal when we assess implementation of the plan in the future?” The development of measurable goals and the resulting implementation actions will be an iterative process. Goals from existing local water plans and information should be summarized and discussed for potential inclusion as part of this process. WRAPS, TMDLs, and the models used for the prioritization process noted above should all be used in the setting of goals. The implementation programs and schedule for achieving the goals should be considered and goals adjusted to reflect those achievable within the timeframe of the plan versus those that may reflect a longer view. Formatting, terminology, and organization in the plan to meet this requirement can vary. For example, a goal to “maintain clean drinking water for future generations” is too broad to be feasibly measured and may better serve as a guiding principle. However, a broad goal such as this could be acceptable if it is supported by a series of measurable sub-goals or objectives similar to the examples below. The plan may contain a blend of goals common to the watershed as a whole, goals individual to a specific local government participant(s) and/or resource, and goals that persist beyond the timeframe of the plan. Not every goal can be measurable within the timeframe of the plan; however the aggregate of goals in the plan should together articulate an intended pace of progress. For example, if a water quality standard is unable to be met within the lifespan of the plan, the plan should contain longer-term goals with interim points at which progress can be examined and methods and models to establish the goal can be reevaluated. Ideally, these interim points would use some measure to show attainment of an interim goal. The timeframe of goals may also need to recognize unique settings and situations across the state. As an example, The Minnesota Geological Survey notes that response time of nitrate concentrations to changes in land use practices in southeast Minnesota will likely vary in different hydrogeologic settings, and may lag...