Several have a strong advocacy component and others emphasize water management roles through voluntary compliance and mediation. Strong emphasis is placed on public participation. An extensive network of volunteer monitoring programs exist throughout the U.S. Volunteers include students, concerned citizens, or both. The network is supported through data systems, training, and equipment provided by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Regulatory and monitoring agencies are making increasing use of the data to meet their own mandates.
Quality assurance is a priority.
Most of the watersheds dealt with by these organizations, with the exception of the Mississippi River Alliance, are much smaller in size than the Saskatchewan River Basin. The opportunity to work with local organizations and individuals to establish Watershed Councils in their own portions of the basin should be explored by watershed managers whenever opportunities arise. The Bow River Water Quality Council in Alberta is a model program already in place within the Saskatchewan basin.