The staff member does not lead the effort but rather assists the sponsors with their efforts. Program neutral planning is another component on the watershed program policy that has led to the success of a variety of projects. Rather than chasing funding programs, efforts are focused on defining the problem and the solution. Once it has been determined what needs to be done, assistance is provided to find the necessary resources. And finally, local project sponsorship and the inclusion of any and all possible partners are probably the primary factors leading to the success of the program.
Local sponsorship leads to project ownership and a resolve to deal with problems as they occur.
Experience has shown a much higher satisfaction rate with local sponsorship and management. Inclusion of all the potential partners early in the process helps resolve differences before they become major stumbling blocks. Plus, it opens the process to a wealth of experience and new ideas. The watershed planning and implementation process is explained in detail in the DENR publication Citizens Guide to Lake and Watershed Restoration Projects . Of critical importance following the definition of the problem, is the assessment of the watershed in question.