This project seeks to educate its clients, the Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) and Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA), on potential implementation strategies for the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan.  The clients represent a larger informal entity called the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative, which includes municipalities, environmental interests, state and federal agencies, among others. After exploring a number of synergistic resource management initiatives working on a watershed scale, 20 case studies were selected based on the clients' goals as well as their geographic and political context.  A cross-case analysis yielded conclusions regarding collaborative governance structures and client recommendations based on their interests and context. Notably, many of these lessons are useful for other entities or partnerships addressing water quality and quantity in the rural American West.

Public education, participation and awareness are often critical to the success of collaborative partnerships.  Consequently, the research team also identified and compiled case studies on outreach programs and public awareness campaigns, based on the objectives of the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative.  The lessons and strategies of these campaigns could serve to educate key stakeholders and potentially broaden support for the Watershed Plan.

The final product will be a book describing the methodology, detailing individual cases and campaigns, and outlining lessons and recommendations for the client organizations.  An electronic version will be available, since the resource would provide valuable insight and guidance to other organizations interested in collaboratively managing natural resources.