Evaluation of Public Involvement in Water Resources Planning

Evaluation of decisions incorporating public involvement as an area where views might differ according to the role of the stakeholder is identified, based on theory and experience.

Abstract

This article identifies evaluation ofdecisions incorporating public involvement as an area where views might differ according to the role of the stakeholder. The two authors have had extensive interaction in a wide variety of public involvement programs related to water resources, but from the differing perspectives of research and practice. Because of increasing public interest in quality public involvement programs, evaluation has a high priority for both authors. Based on theory and experience, six general criteria that are seen by both researcher and practitioner as requirements for adequate evaluation are presented in the context of a brief case study.