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 CHAPTER 3
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter is designed as a working chapter with input from workshop participants.
Background information describing coordination processes such as defining management objectives and
goals, roles of local governments, landowners, and other sectors, financial considerations such as
leveraging and partnering, developing material for public education, and interagency cooperation is
provided for discussion and expansion based on the experiences and comments of all participants.
Topics listed in the discussion section at the end of this session reflect comments from participants at
previously conducted workshops. Additional information is provided in the Clean Water Action Plan:
Restoring and Protecting America's Waters available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (ISBN
0-16-049536-9) and at the website:
http://www.cleanwater.gov
3.1 COORDINATION
As interest in improving water quality develops, whether it is from the private sector, in
response to acute or chronic problems, or is mandated by regulations, coordination is necessary in all
phases of any attempts to ameliorate problems. While understanding watershed, reservoir, and
tailwater processes, assessing these processes, and defining the problem(s) are also necessary, proper
coordination as early as possible will be the most efficient method to achieving improvements. The
people involved (those with vested interests in or responsibilities for the resources, i.e., the
stakeholders) must be identified and work together to develop a plan to study the problem and
implement recommendations in a manner that is acceptable to all if possible. This often requires some
compromises, distribution of responsibilities, and pooling of resources (e.g., expertise, equipment,
funds). Local investment and coordination is extremely useful. Outside experts can help (or hinder) a
project, but it seems as though some good results are obtained when local people provide much of the
leadership. Management objectives must be clearly defined, roles and support from stakeholders must
be determined, education for and input from the public must occur, and interagency cooperation must
be established at technical and managerial levels. Examples of this process include the coordinating
activities for the Comprehensive Basin Study of the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa/Apalachicola-
Chattahoochee-Flint River System and Coffey et al., 1992 (Appendix 3.1A). Since this process will
vary by region, this section will attempt to define in a general way an approach to developing the
coordination necessary, provide some rationale for the steps suggested for coordination, and provide
the workshop participants with enough insight to develop or assist in the development of any studies
they may become involved with in their region.
3.1-1
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