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History of Grassroots Watershed Groups
Early in the 1990's, it became evident that traditional regulatory tools and billions of dollars invested in reducing pollutants from point sources were not alone going to completely achieve clean waters across America. After successfully addressing many point sources of pollution, problems remained. Siltation, nutrients, organic enrichment, and metals were identified as primary concerns and were largely attributed to diffuse sources of runoff from residential areas, city streets, construction sites, agricultural areas, and timberlands. In addition, changes in instream flows and temperature regimes, and hydro-modification, all of which contribute to habitat degradation and fragmentation, were also not being addressed through traditional regulatory tools. These remaining problems are a byproduct of the way we live, work, play, and commute. Overcoming these more complex problems will require the commitment of local citizens who have a stake in the creeks, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and groundwater flowing through their neighborhoods and their communities.
After decades of an emphasis on top-down regulatory approaches to cleaning our nations waterways, the government is increasingly turning to local citizens to help address the complex problems of meeting our clean water goals. Over the past several years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of community-oriented, local watershed protection and restoration efforts. Citizens are recognizing that to make further improvements in the condition of the aquatic resources in their communities, they need to organize into local watershed groups and seek collaborative partnerships. The EPA estimates there are more than 3,000 such efforts nationwide. The proliferation of watershed efforts around the country has changed the nature of environmental protection. An emphasis on citizen stewardship has given those people who depend on the aquatic resources for their health, livelihood, or quality of life a voice in the decision-making process and a responsibility in the management of these resources.
