Please join us as we roll out the Community Rating System (CRS) Green Guide, a new resource that highlights elements in the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual, which have beneficial impacts beyond flood risk reduction. The so called “co-benefits” that this Green Guide seeks to feature include but are not limited to protection of the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains, creation of habitat for fish, fowl, and wildlife, enhanced air and water quality, restoration of natural ecosystems, and creation of additional opportunities for recreation and interaction with nature. The ultimate goal of this Green Guide is to provide local units of government with the resources necessary to enhance the resiliency of their community and the natural ecosystem through the CRS.  In turn and in line with the intentions of the CRS program, these efforts to increase community resilience will also result in lower flood insurance premiums.

This is an invitation only workshop and you are being invited to attend or possibly present because of your expertise and/or experience. The goals of this pilot workshop are to improve the workshop content, process and outcomes in order to meet final workshop goals (see below). Participants will learn more about the Green Guide and CRS, but will additionally evaluate and critique workshop content, materials and process and recommend changes in order to reach the intended primary and secondary audience.

The ultimate goal of the CRS Green Guide workshop will be that “Participants will choose to participate in the CRS or will know how to increase their scores.” Instructors will help participants: Learn about the Community Rating System (CRS); Understand how the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain can reduce risk, reduce costs and promote resilience; Learn about which CRS Activities and Elements reduce flood risk and enhance the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains; Learn about CRS best practices, success stories and resources to maximize credits in these Activity/Element areas; Recognize impacts of future conditions that may result from land use and/or climate change

The primary audience for final CRS Green Guide workshops will be Floodplain Managers not in CRS, new CRS Coordinators or those CRS Coordinators looking for more information, especially on NBF, and finally community officials seeking to improve CRS scores. The secondary audience will be any public/elected officials, CRS User Groups, and conservation groups and organizations such as land trusts.

We will follow-up soon with a formal announcement, agenda and registration. We may contact you directly to find out if you would be willing to present as part of the workshop.