Citizen participation in water management

If rivers are to be managed sustainably, and the potential to resolve confl icts of use realised, the general public must be more involved in their man agement. Participation in water management in England and Wales occurs at t hree levels: formal consultation; public involvement; or actual direct part icipation by the public. Formal consultations often leave the public in the role of the "objector" and ignore the "silent majority" focusing on the mo re vociferous minority of the population. Public involvement is less formal and can take a variety of forms. Although not allowing the public to be di rectly involved in the decision making processes, it provides the public wi th the opportunity to comment upon plans for river works or the redevelopme nt of a river location, or to indicate what they want from the rivers that now through their own local area and which they use for recreation and amen ity. True participation is where the public are actively involved in the de cision making processes. Citizen participation at all three levels provides environmental education, however, personal experience promotes a greater e nvironmental awareness and understanding by the public. This paper reflects upon approaches to citizen participation in the UK and provides examples of specific projects involving both formal organisations and the general public. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behal f of the IAWQ. All rights reserved.