Working Toward a Real Watershed Approach in Rhode Island

This website is currently in draft form and under development. (as of May 10, 2001)

Quick Reference
Site Map
Take the Action Plan Survey
Highest ranking topics
Do's and Don'ts in a Web Survey
Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
A few nice links...
RI DEM Watersheds Partnership
EPA Surf Your Watershed
Clean Water Act Section 319
Conclusions
Prioritization: Knowledge Base
Only a handful of individuals have the knowledge to effectively prioritize each and every topic and issue in the 10-page Action Plan. Those individuals had most likely already given their comments in written or in oral form and had, in fact, helped to shape what was on the Action Plan agenda to begin with.

The rest of the watershed community should have some way to offer their particular expertise and experience, and hopefully learn something in the process. It is important to figure out where the community is, what they know, and what they want to know.

Depending on whether or not we take ignorance as a proxy for disinterest and depending on whether or not we take on the charge of motivating disinterested people, these topics should be looked at as possible points for education.

(N=60)

Prioritization
Key topics and issues
Knowledge base
Applications for the Action Plan
Public participation
Membership
Education and outreach
Role in the watershed approach
Recommendations
For DEM
For WRWC
For other RI watersheds
For future research