Planners as a Public in Water Resources Public Participation Programs1

Abstract

This paper suggests a number of benefits in identifying urban and regional planners as a public in public participation programs of water resources planning studies. A perspective on public participation is presented. Recent trends and developing concepts are identified: emphasis on the need to coordinate urban and regional planning activities with water resources planning, increasing system complexity, the goals and objectives orientation of planning, planning for multi‐objectives, the evaluation of a broader range of alternatives, and the consideration of water alternatives as only one set of measures to further society's aspirations. One way to assist in capitalizing on these trends is to seek out participation of those in other planning efforts who are involved in planning but on a different level. Because of their intimate knowledge of an areas history, growth and development, political climate, local perceptions of needs and desires, and major problems and issues they are able to contribute a great deal of insight in making the water resources planning effort more responsive at the local level. The paper describes one of the first major efforts at working‐level public‐planner contact which was carried out as part of the Susquehanna River Basin Study. A regional survey team comprised of an engineer and an economist from a federal agency and a state water resources planner met informally with planners, city managers, and local planning commissions to discuss issues related to water resources and the growth and development of local areas. This effort while only part of the overall public participation program yielded a number of benefits and if expanded and refined would be a very useful experience in other studies.

IDENTIFICATION OF TRAINING NEEDS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RESPONSIBILITIES1

“…Sufficient public education and information transfer as an important criterion of effectiveness (Frauenglass, 1971;Tucker, 1972;Allee, 1974;Ertel, 1977) was measured in the survey by polling the individuals as to their opinions of the importance of numerous specific related tasks, including the preparation and presentation of educational materials and contact with the media. Results clearly revealed that emphasis in a training course should be placed on tasks of this type, including use of layman's language, effective graphics, and good media coverage.…”