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THE ~lI~~NE~OT<=0 t~~~'~T~1~~1-IEL> ~vlA'~1~l~EMENT ~ ~ ~ r j 1 1 he Minnesota landscape is defined by the presence of water. In fact, almost 25% of the state's 85,000 square miles of surface area is covered in water.' This abundant water supply has strongly influenced the state's cul- ture, which is characterized by both an intense interest in outdoor recre- ation and a proportionately strong investment in the state's water resources. However, managing the state's water resources -for recreation ' as well as for fundamental needs such as agriculture and drinking-water `; supply -amounts to a daunting task. Minnesota has a variety of agencies and organizations that address the •d tY N fd d E ~ ,~4 `VV ~. ~i '~ ~ S Irv iC ~r r challenges of water-resource management. Watershed-based groups are "The 1'Vatc-rshed or cacchme t uniquely situated to take the lead in improving water quality at the local, area of a stream sijsterri is a hy_ grassroots level. As of this printing, there are nearly 80 watershed organi- drologieal unit that is also used as zations in the state, 36 of which are organized on a subwatershed Level in a socio-economic-political system the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. in the management of natural Minnesota's watershed groups vary both in structure and in mode of action. resources. 'Watershed Manage- Three of the four organizational types discussed in this study -Watershed ment' is the process of guiding Districts, Joint Powers Boards (JPBs) and Watershed Management Organi- and organizing resource use on a zations (WMOs) -are enabled by the state to manage water at the grass- watershed to provide desired roots level. These organizations all emphasize local capacity and local goods and ser-vices without; responsibility. The fourth organizational type is a watershed-based non- adverseiy affecting the natural. profit organization. systems" In gathering the information required to determine both the effectiveness Kenneth N. Brooks et al. and the needs of local organizations currently addressing water quality, pro- Hydrologyand the ject researchers have consulted a variety of resources, including: Management o{Watersheds __ Historical records of Legislation ~- Technical Literature ~- A survey on watershed management (sent to 580 staff and board mem- bers in each of the different watershed organizations statewide) ~- Field studies on water-quality implementation projects Finally, researchers also conducted in-depth case studies with some of the most successful watershed organizations in the state. ~ Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1997. Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Plan, Version L0, St. Paul, Minnesota ~~ 3