Build watershed management team member ownership of a certain action by focusing on actions where consequences are more immediately visible, such as those that can have an impact on watershed sub-units or on communities of interest. Continue reading →
Theme: Public Participation 
How participation in environmental decision-making contributes to measurable change
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Henriksen, H. J., Rasmussen, P., Brandt, G., Von Buelow, D., & Jensen, F. V. (2007) Finding 3
Bayesian Belief Network decision support systems are most effectively used as part of a participatory process. It is imperative to get active involvement of stakeholders in this process for a proper construction of variables, selection of states, identification of links, etc. Continue reading →
Herbert, E. (2007) Finding 1
Facilitate public access to land that is owned or managed by water utilities for purposes of protecting the watershed, in order to allow public scrutiny of forest/watershed management practices. Public engagement is critical to the success of source water protection programs, where citizens with experience of the land can effectively share views about topics such as no-cut zones around streams and protection for existing old forests. Continue reading →
Henriksen, H. J., Rasmussen, P., Brandt, G., Von Buelow, D., & Jensen, F. V. (2007) Finding 4
Strengthen public participation by addressing: lack of resources (time, money, staff), lack of rules of participation, lack of in-depth involvement of authorities, lack of hands-on use of Bayesian Belief Network decision support systems for stakeholders, and a lack of professional supervision of the decision-support process. Continue reading →
Henriksen, H. J., Rasmussen, P., Brandt, G., Von Buelow, D., & Jensen, F. V. (2007) Finding 2
Use Bayesian Belief Network decision support systems for complex decision-making, including structural learning, strategic integration and breakdown of barriers between different domains. But high level of frustration can occur when citizen input meetings lack structure and trail off into local and personal problems. Continue reading →
Hibbard, M., & Lurie, S. (2006) Finding 3
Build watershed council ability to:
- to bring people together to learn about watershed health and to learn to dialog in new ways;
- build trust;
- identify win-win and creative solutions
Koontz, T. M., & Johnson, E. M. (2004) Finding 1
In facilitating development of a watershed group, encourage participation from a balance of public versus private sector stakeholders. More balanced (mixed public/private) groups are more likely to be engaged in planning and research, group development and maintenance, and watershed restoration and protection, than are citizen-based groups. Citizen-based groups may be more likely than mixed groups to achieve government pressure as a primary accomplishment. Continue reading →
Koontz, T. M., & Johnson, E. M. (2004) Finding 2
Focus on a contextual approach to prescribing widespread stakeholder involvement in collaborative environmental management. Prescriptions calling for broad community participation in all cases are unwise; recognize which objectives are likely to be met by broader participation, and which are not. Continue reading →
de Loe, R. C., Kreutzwiser, R. D., & Neufeld, D. (2005) Finding 1
When implementing provide education programs focused on general community awareness programs (to build public support) as well as programs targeted to potential groundwater contamination contributors. Continue reading →
de Loe, R. C., Kreutzwiser, R. D., & Neufeld, D. (2005) Finding 2
Understand factors facilitating and constraining groundwater protection: local governmental leadership, financial resources, building linkages among key stakeholders and organizations, appropriate institutional arrangements and public support. Continue reading →
