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
Do's and Don'ts of the Web Survey
Do's
Don'ts
Give yourself at least a month to develop the survey itself Don't assume others will follow your schedule
Figure out as you develop it, what kinds of information you really need Don't assume that just because you know what you want it to know, that you know how to ask it
Give yourself at least a month to make it web-ready Don't get bogged down in details
Pilot it extensively with many different groups Don't let your personal experience dictate what is "usable"
Be present when they are taking it Don't assume your respondents understand your reasoning
Create a model, get it just right, and then replicate it over many pages Don't rush it
Explain the purpose clearly Don't just give out the address and expect people to be intrigued
Make personal contacts and give out lots of information Don't assume everyone will tell all their friends and neighbors
Distribute a paper copy (if possible) for the folks who don't have access to the Internet Don't be a snob about computers
Target the most interested (likely to participate) groups and individuals first Don't start out at the supermarket or laundromat
Be available for technical assistance Don't hide from your respondents