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Abstract
Popp, J. H., H.G.
Rodríguez, E. Gbur, and J. Pennington. 2007. The role of stakeholders’ perceptions in
addressing water quality disputes in an embattled watershed. JEMREST
3:253-261.
DOI: 10.4029/2007jemrest3no15
The
Lincoln Lake Watershed in Northwest Arkansas
is a rapidly growing area that is home to farms, urban residents and
industry. Researchers recognize the importance of widespread inclusion of,
and collaboration among, stakeholder groups in the development of effective
water management policy. Meaningful
collaborations first require an understanding of the perceptions of
agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders regarding 1) water quality
issues and 2) interactions with policymakers in the management process. In this study information was collected from
63 (or 84%) of the agricultural and 67 (or 28%) of the non-agricultural
stakeholders in the watershed. Results suggest that opinions vary widely
between groups regarding water quality and the sources of water pollution.
Agricultural stakeholders point to new construction and industry as the
largest polluters while non-agricultural stakeholders (which include
developers and industry) point to agriculture. Furthermore, stakeholder
groups identified a disconnect between government officials’ ability to
represent the needs of stakeholders and their ability to effect policy.
Survey data also provide insights regarding perceptions of best management
practices’ effectiveness that was heretofore unsubstantiated. Together
all results suggest that work is needed to improve the knowledge base of
stakeholders and their interaction with appropriate government officials if
stakeholder involvement is to contribute to effective environmental policy. It further supports the need to involve stakeholders from
the planning to the implementation stage to develop relevant water quality
policy. The methods used here can be applied where water quality management
is a challenge in embattled watersheds impacted by excess application of animal
manure.
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