Public participation in watershed planning : an analysis of modern water resources planning processes

Watershed planning has recently emerged as a comprehensive geographically grounded method for managing environmental resources. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has identified the watershed approach as "ideal for addressing water resource issues, as everything is connected by water" (TDEC 1998). And, the Western Governors Council (WGC) has stated that "a watershed is a useful unit to draw in all the necessary players... it hosts the people and surrounds the variables" (WGC, 1994). In an era when planners and officials sing the praises of "sustainability" and "smart growth," watershed planning emerges as the perfect tool to bring together and balance environmental, social, and economic variables. Within the framework of watershed planning, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), three vital components are identified: 1) partnerships, 2) a geographic focus, and 3) sound management techniques (USEPA 1996). It has also been hypothesized that the success of the watershed protection approach is dependent upon public involvement (EPA 1996). Recognizing the vital importance of partnerships, and the public's role in partnerships, this project investigates the effectiveness of public participation within contemporary water resources planning processes (e.g watershed protection approaches, watershed management, watershed associations and other watershed planning frameworks). These measures of effectiveness include a survey of the mechanisms for comprehensive involvement and an analysis of positive participation impacts. The results of this study identify strengths and weaknesses associated with public participation in watershed planning and make recommendations to more effectively involve the public in the planning process. The watershed approach has great potential to be more effective than past water resource management approaches. A Watershed Approach Report Card has been developed to facilitate in evaluating and guiding a successful watershed planning process.