Abstract:
In Oregon, the connection between watershed councils and citizens is vital. Three types of connections are including citizens within the structure of the council, citizens attending meetings, and engaging citizens with field activities. The similarities and differences between how organizationally based and citizen based watershed councils connect with citizens are presented. Participant observation and key informant interviews were conducted with four watershed councils in western Oregon. Citizens are overtly included in the structure of citizen based councils, while citizens are included as an interest group in the structure of organizational councils. Citizen based councils organized meetings to provide information to citizens, while organizationally based councils largely did not. Both types of councils drew upon a notion of place to facilitate citizen engagement with field activities. In general, citizen-based councils connected with citizens more than organizational councils. Implications and further research opportunities are presented in conclusion.