1999-07-22_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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t[tiTERAC~"iQE~f AItiiD AvVAR~~iESS QF ~lATERSi-iED C€3NiIVEf.)N[~'Y 1. Level of Concern forl(ttater Ciuafity The level of water-quality concem expressed by water- shed decision-makers is strongly correlated with their organization's level of implementation of water-quality projects and programs. Sixty percent of decision-makers from the Highly Active Organizations rank water quali- ty as a serious concem. However, this figure falls to 15% for Inactive Organizations. Concern for water quality is directly correlated to the level of activity undertaken by the organizations. 2. interest in and Qutreach to Citizen Participation Successful organizations tend to be more interested in increasing citizen participation in their projects. Three- quarters of decision-makers from the Highly Active organizations say that they would like to see participa- tion increase, white in the Inactive organizations, only one-third of decision-makers would like to see par- ticipation increase. Not only would the active groups like to increase partic- ipation by citizens, they are motivated to pursue that goat. Decision-makers in Highly Active organizations are most Likely to provide outreach to citizens in their water- shed. They may accomplish this through the news media, education programs, brochures and/or newsletters. 3. Reason far Invoiven~ent in Qrganization Perhaps the most compelling factor in a watershed orga- nization's success is the reason given by its decision-mak- ers (on both staff and board) when asked why they first became involved with the organization. In Highly Active organizations, the majority of decision-makers say that they became involved with their organization because they were interested in watershed issues. How- ever, in the Inactive to Moderately Active organizations, only a minority of the decision-makers were interested in watershed issues. It stands to reason that if concem for watershed issues is combined with an interest in the organization, the chances for success will rise. This result has implica- tions for selecting board and staff with high levels of interest in watershed issues and, more specifically, water- quality issues. COItiiCLE1SiE)iV In summary, there are a several key factors that can be attributed to the success of an organization. These fac- tors, when combined with the motivation and enthusi- asm of the staff and board, go a long way toward ensur- ing that water quality on the watershed landscape is being well managed. 5 Ib l'..~ i ~~i F°a~~ 01~M1 .u-~.`r r, Ira ~;;;~. Full-tir:~e employes established office space and equipment Access tov~rater-qualit;~ information.. Higfi level of concem for water quality Vdater quality monitoring program in place Interest in !and active encouragement of) citizen participation Presence of a public outreach program 13