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Who’s in Charge: Role Clarity in a Midwestern Watershed Group

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Abstract

Studies of collaborative watershed groups show that effective leadership is an important factor for success. This research uses data from in-depth interviews and meeting observation to qualitatively examine leadership in a Midwestern collaborative watershed group operating with government funding. One major finding was a lack of role definition for volunteer steering-committee members. Lack of role clarity and decision-making processes led to confusion regarding project management authority among the group, paid project staff members, and agency personnel. Given the important role of government grants for funding projects to protect water quality, this study offers insight into leadership issues that groups with Clean Water Act Section 319 (h) funds may face and suggestions on how to resolve them.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided in part by the Indiana Department of Environ Management, the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, the Midwest Crossroads Alliance for Graduate Education, and the Professoriate at Purdue University. We are thankful for the helpful feedback and suggestions of Melissa Baker, Aaron Thompson, and four anonymous reviewers.

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Correspondence to Kristin Floress.

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Floress, K., Prokopy, L.S. & Ayres, J. Who’s in Charge: Role Clarity in a Midwestern Watershed Group. Environmental Management 48, 825–834 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9724-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9724-2

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