Citizen and Stakeholder Involvement

Stakeholder participation is an important dimension of the WRAS process for at least three reasons. First, a broad based group brings a breadth of knowledge of the landscape and its history and current condition. Although maps and GIS are wonderful, they cannot replace personal knowledge of an area. Secondly, a broad based group helps season the plan development process with a variety of points of view - a variety that is hard to achieve by County staff alone. This broad base helps incorporate differences and diminishes polarization. Finally, a Steering Committee process plants the seeds for partnerships, shared problem solving and shared resources, all of which are important to WRAS plan implementation. Kay Schultz, Monocacy WRAS Watershed Coordinator Frederick County Maryland

If you are a citizen with concerns about your watershed’s health, consider being the champion for a WRAS. While independent nonprofit organizations, private for profit firms, citizens, or citizen groups are not eligible to be the WRAS proposal applicant, they are encouraged to enter into a working relationship with a local government which can be the WRAS proposal applicant. A local government may be a municipality or a county government, and they lead the process to develop the Strategy, preferably in collaboration with other local governments sharing the same watershed, but most importantly, with other partners, including citizens and non-governmental stakeholders. Some Strategies were developed because a single citizen pursued and developed the effort in collaboration with a local government!

Local governments cannot receive WRAS awards unless they show a high degree of meaningful collaboration with citizens and stakeholders in their targeted watershed. Local government information, local knowledge, and stakeholder concerns must all be considered in the analysis that leads to subsequent management decisions articulated in the final WRAS document. It is the responsibility of the local governments that are developing a WRAS to champion local public involvement and ensure strong stakeholder participation.

Some, local governments establish a core Working Group made up of interested parties and then have a larger Steering Committee made up of an even broader cross section of stakeholders. The Working Group makes regular presentations to the Steering Committee regarding progress, data, and decisions. The Steering Committee may raise concerns or provide recommendations, and consensus develops regarding the direction and focus of the WRAS. Pre-existing groups who may be representative of the watershed's stakeholders who could be invited to fill the role of the Steering Committee. There is no set way to involve the public and stakeholders and local governments can manage the public process at their discretion.

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Last Updated on April 16, 2004