Land and Watershed Management - Practices of Irrigation and On-farm Water Management - page 231

6.6.7 Pond Management
In addition to beautifying the landscape, ponds provide important ecosystem ser-
vices such as stormwater management, habitat for aquatic life, and ecosystem health
and stability. Proper pond management can prevent problems and ensure a healthy
functioning pond habitat.
6.6.8 Regulatory Authority
Central or State control regulatory authority is needed to control land-use prac-
tices that alter aquatic habitat and cause nonpoint source pollution. For most
effective results, government agency representatives, public officials, educators,
scientists, concerned citizens, and other private interests may join together to iden-
tify and address land-use practices and other human activities that pollute local
water resources or otherwise alter watershed functions, and materialize the solution
strategies.
6.6.9 Community-Based Approach to Watershed Management
Community-based watershed management is an approach to water-resource protec-
tion that enables individuals, groups, and institutions with a stake in management
outcomes (often called stakeholders) to participate in identifying and addressing
local issues that affect or are affected by watershed functions.
Proponents of community-based watershed management involving local stake-
holders results in more locally relevant solutions that take into account each
community's unique social, economic, and environmental conditions and values.
Stakeholder participation is also thought to create a sense of local ownership of
identified problems and solutions, thus ensuring long-term support for resulting
management plans.
Some key stakeholders may include those people who have the authority
to make land-use decisions, such as individual landowners, farmers, and local
government officials. Other stakeholders may include representatives from envi-
ronmental and community groups, schools, national/state EPA, Department of
Natural Resources, the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and University
Extension departments.
6.6.9.1 Characteristics of Community-Based Watershed Management
Changing Roles and Relationships
As local communities participate more actively in watershed management, the roles
and relationships of resource managers and stakeholders will change. Traditionally,
resource managers were viewed as experts who were uniquely qualified to identify