An Assessment Of Community Capacity For Sustainable Watershed Management In The Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed PDF Download

Sprawling low density housing and retail developments characterize the growth patterns of many communities nationally. These patterns of development have been associated with impairments in ecosystem services that are critical to the functioning of social and natural systems. In response to the negative implications of these patterns, watershed initiatives are taking place across the U.S. A qualitative assessment of community capacity for sustainable watershed management was conducted in two Lower Kaskaskia River watersheds. Six research questions drove this capacity assessment: (1) How do diverse community managers and residents define community health; (2) what role does the natural environment play in perceptions of community health; (3) what are the perceived effects of urbanization on the study communities; (4) what are community stakeholders' beliefs about the level of environmental protection within their communities; (5) What are stakeholders' perceptions of their communities' ability to solve problems; (6) What are critical indicators of community capacity to engage in sustainable watershed management. Key findings suggest that developing a sustainable vision, networking between groups, and leadership play important roles in the successful implementation of community based watershed initiatives.