Evaluation of a collaborative model: A case study analysis of watershed planning in the intermountain west

Collaborative planning processes have become increasingly popular for addre ssing environmental planning issues, resulting in a number of conceptual mo dels for collaboration. A model proposed by Selin and Chavez suggests that collaboration emerges from a series of antecedents and then proceeds sequen tially through problem-setting, direction-setting, implementation, and moni toring and evaluation phases. This paper summarizes an empirical study to e valuate if the Selin and Chavez model encompasses the range of factors impo rtant for the establishment and operation of collaboration in watershed pla nning from the perspective of the planning coordinator. Analysis of three c ase studies of watershed based planning efforts in the Intermountain West s uggests the model realistically describes some of the fundamental collabora tive elements in watershed planning. Particularly important factors include the involvement of stakeholders in data collection and analysis and the es tablishment of measurable objectives. Informal face-to-face dialog and wate rshed field tours were considered critical for identifying issues and estab lishing trust among stakeholders. Group organizational structure also seems to play a key role in facilitating collaboration. From this analysis, sugg estions for refining the model are proposed.