An exerpt from DCR document entitled Watershed Prioritization by Mr. Mark Bennett

"The opportunity to improve communication with the public is one of the strongest motivating factors for states to adopt a staewide watershed management approach.  By developing information plans and using methods that promote public involvement (e.g. educational meetings, workshops, citizen stream-monitoring) watershed management can increase public awareness for watershed related issues and facilitate responses to citizen concerns.  Watershed plans contribute to a more informed public, which can result in more realistic expectations regarding water management. "