A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING MATRIX FOR COMBINING SCIENCE WITH STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT TO PRIORITIZE WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION IN ARKANSAS' NONPOINT SOURCE STATE MANAGEMENT PLAN

In 2004, the Ecological Engineering Group at the University of Arkansas received a grant to update Arkansas' nonpoint source pollution (NPS) management program. A stakeholder involvement process was developed that used collaborative learning (CL) and comparative risk assessment (CRA) to prioritise watersheds for NPS implementation. The relative ecological risk posed by nonpoint pollution to each watershed was assessed and values assigned using available water quality, GIS, and demographic data. This risk assessment was the foundation to a CL exercise. Through the CL process, the knowledge and experience of scientists, administrators and laypersons were used. Watersheds prioritised through the CRA became eligible for section 319(h) funding from EPA. This study evaluated the substantive legitimacy of the stakeholder process. Overall, stakeholders were found to be satisfied. The repeatability of the process made it a valuable improvement to Arkansas' NPS program.