Nongovernmental Organizations as Scientific Leaders: Experiences from Collaborative Water Resource Management in the Snake River Basin

Abstract:

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are well represented as stakeholders in collaborative, science-based management of environmental resources. However, NGOs have more recently emerged as providers rather than consumers of science in such decision-making environments. The Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) in Idaho’s Snake River basin has built a respected science and technology program with components in water quality/aquatic ecology, hydrology and water management, fisheries biology, and social science. Individual projects are generated internally and externally, the latter through consulting-type relationships with agencies, irrigation entities, and NGOs seeking HFF’s expertise. Meanwhile, partnerships built through local watershed organizations have maximized the application of HFF’s science and technology to decision-making. Recent examples include assisting a water users association with planning and monitoring of aquifer recharge, providing modeling tools to the state of Idaho for conjunctive water management, conducting social-science research to inform U.S. Forest Service recreation management, and partnering with irrigation entities to use remotely transmitted real-time data in daily water management. Keys to success are long-term relationship building, scientific credibility, perceived objectivity in communicating science to varied stakeholders, and useful products. Challenges include funding and staffing a science/technology program at a small NGO unaffiliated with a university or agency and external limitations (e.g., legal authority) to effective implementation.