Now in its twentieth year, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission is taking both a reflective and forwardthinking approach to determining its future. The commission decided to evaluate progress toward achieving the corridor’s goals established by Congress in 1986, and to review the existing management structure and look at options for strengthening its effectiveness. The commission’s desire to be transparent and open in its deliberations led to a partnership with the NPS Conservation Study Institute. The Institute conducted a “Sustainability Study” to provide the commission with a framework to inform its decisions about strategic future directions for the corridor.

The report:

	Evaluated the commission’s accomplishments, including documenting leverage of National Park Service funding;
	Analyzed potential management alternatives for achieving the national interest of the Blackstone Valley; and
	Assessed future commitments needed to attain sustainability of the conservation efforts.