Your Watershed Planning Group

Watershed groups (groups and their members are the "you" to whom this module is addressed) may be concerned with a broad variety of problems or threats to many different watershed values - from degraded fisheries to loss of local scenic beauty to algal blooms. As you might expect, the scope and level of detail of plans that watershed groups will develop and implement will vary greatly depending on factors such as the complexity of the group's goals, the capacity of the group to create and carry out a plan, community viewpoints, and others. One size does not fit all; each situation presents its own problems and opportunities.

This module makes certain assumptions about your group, and how far you've gotten started. You already have brought together at least a nucleus of a watershed group - people who have identified one or more problems in the watershed, or desirable changes They have ideas about goals for the watershed, and have given some thought to a "vision" for the watershed, that is, the long term character, condition and values of the watershed. They may also have given some thought to tactics for addressing problems, at least individually. You are ready to put in real effort to bring about change. But - and this is important - you most likely have quite a ways to go in bringing your forces up to strength, getting reasonable agreement on goals with others beyond the group, and carrying forward the careful work of analysis and the selection of a strategy and action. This module is designed to help you move beyond these early stages to the point where you begin to implement the plan you've developed.