Examples of Our Work

Whether it is transportation, water supply, water quality, ocean policy, energy, or a client-specific problem, Nettleton Strategies brings a diverse skill set to clients for problem solving and achieving solutions. Here are some examples of projects completed by Nettleton Strategies’ founder Carl Nettleton:

• Making Stormwater Alternative Compliance Programs Work
• The Status of Water 1993 vs. 2009
• Creating a Landing Place for San Diego Transportation
• It’s All of Us, Marine Pollution in San Diego
• Paradise in Progress
• Keeping Surfers Safe
• New River Technical Advisory Committee
• Farm Community Pollution
• Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team
• Siting Wastewater Facilities
• The Status of Fisheries

Making Stormwater Alternative Compliance Programs Work. On July 17, 2014, in conjunction with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region, (Regional Board), Nettleton Strategies facilitated a stormwater alternative compliance workshop with 145 participants in Procopio’s San Diego offices. The workshop reviewed the alternative compliance options related to the new Municipal Stormwater Permit (MS4). Back to the top

The Status of Water 1993 vs. 2009. When a client needed to understand water issues during the 1993 drought, a joint-fact-finding process between the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the San Diego County Water Authority, and the City of San Diego Water Department resulted in “Our Water, Our Future,” a consensus report on the status and future of water supplies in San Diego.   When drought reappeared in the first decade of the 20th century, the client asked for “Our Water, Our Future – 2009 Update.” This new report updated and compared the 1993 information with conditions in 2009. Back to the top

Creating a Landing Place for San Diego Transportation.When San Diego faced a critical decision about the future of its only major commercial airport, Nettleton Strategies managed the overall project, conducted a situational analysis, and a presentation to a joint meeting of the San Diego Association of Governments and the San Diego County Airport Authority boards of directors. The work included visualizations of options for a new, transit-encouraging transportation center for San Diego and oversight of a sustainability report. The outcome: establishment of the Ad Hoc Airport Regional Policy Committee, a mayor-led, multi-agency committee to determine how to optimize the airport while integrating airport, community, and transportation planning called Destination Lindberg. Back to the top

It’s All of Us, Marine Pollution in San Diego. When debate raged about San Diego marine pollution, joint fact finding strategies were used to produce a television show which confirmed the status of the problem and possible solutions. With Walter Cronkite as the narrator, the television show aired on two stations in prime time and brought all sides together for a private airing. The outcome: an inter-agency panel to address San Diego Bay water quality. Back to the top

Paradise in Progress. With 30 projects underway and 100 more on the drawing board in a downtown setting, a thirteen-agency collaboration was developed called Paradise in Progress. The group coordinated construction and special events using mapping technology. A joint-fact-finding strategy and a three-phase conflict resolution process kept the construction projects and special events on schedule and within budget while minimizing impacts to businesses, residents and visitors. Back to the top

Keeping Surfers Safe. When surfers were drowning because their leashes were entangling in lobster buoys, a solution was facilitated between surfers, lobster fishers and lifeguards. Back to the top







New River Technical Advisory Committee. When legislation called for a strategic plan to clean up the most polluted river in North America, Nettleton Strategies was called upon to create the community of interests necessary to develop that plan. Utilizing traditional meeting techniques and the innovative use of mapping technology, the firm developed a Technical Advisory Committee, orchestrated a series of public meetings and was credited with making “historical breakthroughs” in relationships between stakeholders. The local newspaper quoted one resident as saying: “I know it’s going to happen, and I’m so glad, . . . enough is enough.” Back to the top


Farm Community Pollution. When a farm community feared contamination in its water supply was harming the health of its residents, Nettleton Strategies combined its bi-lingual/bi-cultural skills with its understanding of facilitation and community relations. The firm established a civil dialogue between alarmed citizens and the agencies addressing the problem. Although hundreds attended a tense public meeting, the interactions remained respectful, and the agencies and the community gained a greater understanding of the concerns and options. Back to the top

Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team. When the timing seemed right to create a multi-agency collaboration to restore the Tijuana River Valley, Nettleton Strategies’ principals joined with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to create and nurture the Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team. This action-oriented group brought together more than 30 federal, state and local agencies from both the U.S. and Mexico to establish the relationships and resources that resulted in a restoration strategy for the valley. Utilization of GIS visualizations was a key to progress. Back to the top

Siting Wastewater Facilities. When a city wastewater department needed to site $1.5 billion worth of capital improvements, work included interacting with the affected residents and businesses to integrate the facilities into the community. The program included numerous facilitated and joint fact finding sessions in various public settings. Back to the top

The Status of Fisheries. When disputes flared about the status of fisheries, visualizations were developed that explained fisheries populations, overlaid with the regulatory authority at various population levels and the perspectives of different types of harvesters. Back to the top