An Effective Method of Utilizing the Internet to Enhance Watershed Management

The watershed methodology is a natural framework for developing a better understanding of the lifecycle of water and the ecology of the containing regions. It can lead to a cohesive and efficient plan for watershed restoration, but it requires a multidisciplinary approach to the studies performed and the data collected. The implementation of the watershed design also requires a coordinated effort among government agencies and other interested parties, first on the local level, then on an increasingly larger scale. It can work well assuming we find ways to deal with the inherent complexities in communication among the people involved as well as in the synthesis of the many forms of data. In order to promote the collaborative effort that is a cornerstone of the watershed approach, it is important that information is readily presented to the stakeholders. In the past, because of limitations on the ability to impart information, we utilized a methodology that focused on centralized planning and that communicated with involved non-governmental organizations and private citizens only after much of the planning was complete. This sort of passive involvement garnered very little buy in and often resulted in litigation and a consequent increase in government imposed regulations. The focus of this paper is to present an approach to watershed management that incorporates the internet as a tool to help address the inherent communication issues. The internet is an obvious tool to assist us in reducing the level of complexity that is associated with the watershed methodology. It is a tool that allows interagency communication, as well communication with the public at large. It also provides an online way to visually display information, which can aid in removing barriers to understanding. By incorporating the internet as a supplementary tool to other methods, the switch to a more collaborative approach can be made smoothly.