How Does Integrated Planning Work?

Everyone agrees that our natural resources are important. On one end of the spectrum, there are those that feel we, as a society, dramatically UNDER invest in environmental protection. On the other hand, there are those that feel we already invest TOO MUCH in certain areas. Wherever you land on that spectrum, one thing we can all agree on is importance of our natural environment.

However, if you are a single mother living below the poverty line, while you may appreciate the need for investing in the environment, but it’s not likely to be one of your priorities, especially if you are worried about putting food on the table.

That's where the Integrated Plan comes in. It is a way to look at the big picture to ensure that our finite resources are being applied where they are needed most.

At its core, integrated planning is a way to prioritize environmental investments based on four key factors – community priorities, prioritizing sources, prioritizing solutions, and financial capability. By looking at our investments through each of these four lenses, we can make the best decisions for our community and our environment.