Effective groups include members from a wide spectrum of the community who have come together to work toward a common goal--in this case to protect the community's groundwater resource. Often, these people would not be drawn together naturally. Watershed Councils and Drinking Water Protection Committees are two such groups that already might exist in your area.
Watershed Councils work on local water issues. While their main focus is usually on streams or rivers, groundwater is part of the watershed, so it is an appropriate topic for Council activities. Check out the on-line list of Watershed Councils in Oregon or contact your local OSU Extension Service or Soil and Water Conservation District office.
Drinking Water Protection Committees work to protect a public drinking water supply. Contact your water utility company to see if such a committee exists.
If no such group exists, you might want to form a new community action group to address groundwater protection.
Much has been written about how to work successfully in community action groups. Whether you are forming a new group or working with a well-established organization, these resources will help make things run more smoothly.
Oregon State University Extension Service
The following publications are part of a series called "Working Together." They can be viewed on-line at no charge or ordered for the amount shown. You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for on-line viewing.
- Choosing Your Group's Structure, Mission, and Goals, EC 1507 ($2.00)
- Dealing with Stumbling Blocks, EC 1511 ($2.00)
- Effective Communication, EC 1510 ($2.00)
- Effective Meetings Management, EC 1508 ($2.00)
- Good Decision Making, EC 1509 ($2.00)
- Successful Partnerships, EC 1506 ($2.00)
The entire "Working Together" set is available for $9.00.
Washington State University Cooperative Extension
The following publications can be viewed on-line at no charge or ordered for the amount shown.
- Diverse Partners in Planning and Decision Making, WREP 133 ($1.50)
- Ground Rules Equalize Power as Governmental Agencies Manage Citizen Involvement, WREP 129 ($1.00)
- Interest-Based Problem Solving Process and Techniques, WREP 134 ($1.50)
- The "Sondeo": A Rapid Reconnaissance Approach for Situational Assessment, WREP 127 ($1.00)
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
"No More Poisoned Wells: A Citizen's Guide to Oregon Groundwater Protection" (1990), Chapter 4, "Making A Difference: Tips for Effective Citizen Involvement" (pp. 21-25)
This publication is out of print but you can order a copy of the full document or an individual chapter from:
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
P.O. Box 1393
Eugene, OR 97440
Phone: 503-344-5044
E-mail: info@pesticide.org