In response to state‐level needs assessments, extension services and land‐grant institutions (LGIs) have directed human and financial resources to meet identified public information needs regarding water resource status and management. This study evaluates the success of these efforts by examining the results of a nationwide survey of public attitudes and perceptions regarding water resources, and focusing on participants’ responses to questions related to preferred water information sources, learning opportunities, and topics. Fifteen percent of the adult population in the Southern, Mid‐Atlantic, and Northeast regions received water resource information from cooperative extension services, or in the 16 states sampled, extension reached about 15.3 million adults with water resource information. Older respondents and those living in smaller cities were more likely to indicate receiving water resource information from extension. Survey participants were asked to indicate water resource topics about which they would like to receive further information. Respondents were most interested in protecting public drinking water supplies, watershed management, nutrient and pesticide management, and fish and wildlife needs. Similarly, participants were asked to indicate their three (of possible 12) preferred modes for receiving water resource information. Overall, most respondents preferred receiving information by reading printed fact sheets, watching television coverage, reading newspaper articles, and visiting Internet websites. However, responses varied widely according to respondent's age and the size of the community, indicating that water resource education delivery methods should be selected based on specific target audiences.

No abstract

No abstract

Public participation in a watershed planning process involves reaching out to social groups with very diverse opinions and perceptions about environmental issues. Using responses to a nationwide survey of public attitudes and perceptions related to water issues, we examined the effects of socio‐demographic and residence characteristics on opinions about water quality, agricultural and urban pollution sources, and nutrients and pathogen pollution issues in the southern United States. Significant differences were identified among respondents of different age groups, genders, and educational levels. Opinions also differed significantly among urban and rural respondents and between states. These results can be used by state and local agencies, universities, and extension services involved in the design of collaborative watershed management processes and water resource educational efforts.