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Everyone lives in a watershed but different
people will have different levels of interest in their
watersheds. Some will be interested in a leadership
role or active involvement in a watershed association.
Others will be less intensely involved but still interested
in learning about the watershed. Many will take no active
role.
Interest also will vary from place to
place, so the following list merely suggests examples
of people and organizations that might be interested
in participating at some level. You can probably think
of others in your area:
- Landowners
- Drinking water suppliers
- Businesses and industries
- Farmers and farm organizations
- Citizen monitoring groups
- Environmental, conservation and
sporting groups
- Canoeing, hiking or bicycling clubs
- Land conservancies
- Heritage groups, historical societies
- Service organizations, community
or youth groups
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Chambers of commerce, tourism councils
- Environmental Advisory Councils
- Sewer and water authorities
- Parks and recreation boards
- County conservation districts
- Regional planning commissions
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Watershed organizations can be very
effective in developing and carrying out local solutions
to existing water related problems and in preventing
future problems. Organizing one can also be a daunting
task! This advice, gathered from various successful
watershed groups, might help:
- Build and maintain relationships.
Your efforts will be more successful if you involve
other groups and work toward a shared vision.
- Set clear goals that are easy to
explain. It will be easier to get support if people
understand what you are trying to do and how it relates
to them.
- Make sure everyone involved knows
the basics.
- Demonstrate results early. A successful
protect, even a small one, will get people excited
and interested.
- Give project participants good publicity,
especially when a local business has allowed its employees
to participate on work time.
- Look for diverse funding sources.
- Look for other kinds of support.
Businesses and local governments may be able to provide
services or materials more readily than cash.
- Enlist the support of your local
government officials.
- Contact a watershed specialist at
your local DEP Regional Office or County Conservation
District.
Above all, be creative. Groups can come
up with surprising and innovative ways to get materials,
services, volunteer workers, money and more when they
put their minds to it.
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