They empower and excite people to keep them involved in a project. Clear, compelling visions developed through an inclusive and participatory process will bring people together to focus their efforts on specific goals. On Aquidneck Island, the community has a vision of being able to walk or ride a bicycle from one end of the island to the other. This vision has brought together bikers, horseback riders, walkers, and runners to develop a plan to link open space throughout the island. A final key to building long-term support for watershed projects is getting results.
People grow impatient with unending planning and information gathering.
For this reason, successful watershed management initiatives often start with a small demonstration project in a sub-watershed. These pilot studies are used to engage stakeholders, build constituencies, and test ideas for improved management. Success at this level builds support for management of the watershed as a whole. Creating and maintaining natural places and sustainable communities cannot succeed without the participation and commitment of all sectors of society. When we create constituencies, we listen to other points of view and try to merge interests so our programs are beneficial to many groups.