Creating a Waterwatch action plan

Waterwatch Australia
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage

Publication cover

Contents

Introduction

Waterwatch is a national community water monitoring network supported by the Commonwealth Government's Natural Heritage Trust. Waterwatch enables Australians to become involved in the monitoring and management of their local waterways and catchments. Waterwatch aims to build community understanding of water quality issues, and to encourage monitoring groups to undertake constructive actions to rectify water quality problems.

What is an action plan?

An action plan sounds like something that only a major company might use. However, any organisation that faces complex or difficult problems can make good use of an action plan. Your action plan does not have to be particularly complex, but you do need to put time and thought into developing a good plan. You should think of an action plan as a road map - it shows you where you are, where you are going, and how you are going to get there.

The aim of an action plan is to allow your group to move from an awareness of water quality problems, to eventually coordinating and implementing actions that will have a beneficial impact on water quality. An action plan will help focus your activities, and consequently you will manage water quality problems much more efficiently.

Community cooperation

Before you even begin drawing up an action plan, you need to make sure that all stakeholders, the people who live, work, go to school or run a business near the waterway, are aware of your activities. You will achieve much more when the whole community understands what you stand for, and what you are trying to achieve. Also, ensure that relevant government water and land managers, local government officials, and conservation groups are involved.

Remember not to exclude groups or individuals that may be contributing to the decline of water quality. The aim of Waterwatch is to foster community based solutions to water quality problems. Good outcomes are based on the principle of cooperation, not confrontation.

In some cases, Waterwatch groups have led land managers and businesses to change their practices for the better. Many organisations are unaware of the impact that they have on the environment, and will respond positively when they are made aware of the issues.

Examine the situation

If you are thinking about creating an action plan, you probably already feel that you have a water quality issue that merits further investigation. First, you must make sure that your initial results are beyond question. You will lose credibility and support if your monitoring results are inaccurate. If you are getting unusual readings, you need to double-check your entire monitoring process. Make sure your equipment and readings are accurate, make sure the data was recorded properly and then test the site again. If possible, get someone else to conduct the same tests so you can compare results. Also, make sure that no natural factors such as heavy storms or flooding further up the catchment are affecting your results.

When you are absolutely sure that a genuine problem exists, you need to identify the causes of the problem. Further monitoring may help, and you should examine topographic maps, aerial photos and research the activities occurring in your catchment. This will help you to review and pinpoint different land-uses or other factors affecting water quality.

From awareness to action

Once you determine that there is a genuine water quality problem, and the source is confirmed, you can start developing an action plan. You need to determine how you are going to move from an awareness of the problem, to implementing positive actions.

The nature of the problem will usually determine what actions are most suitable. A good way to work out potential actions is to review the problem, and then determine appropriate aims, goals and objectives for dealing with the problem.

Many different responses to a problem are usually available. Depending on the situation, you might wish to promote better farming practices, replant trees or remove litter, gain media coverage for your activities, implement educational programs, or lobby government agencies and politicians.

Aims

An aim is a broad statement that symbolises in a sentence or two what you are trying to achieve. For instance, you might aim to:

Goals

You now need to set your goals, which should flow on from your aim. Make sure the goals are achievable, tangible and positive. Place realistic time frames on your goals, and remember to prioritise them. Never forget that you need to be laying the groundwork for your larger, long term goals, and make sure each goal results in some positive outcome for water quality.

Possible goals could include:

Objectives

Once you have created your goals, you should create one or more definable and measurable objectives for reaching each goal. Using the existing example, objectives could be to:

Once you have determined specific objectives, you might like to create a timetable for each, and place someone in charge of reaching each objective. Ensure your leaders have enough people and resources to get the job done.

Evaluate your progress

Once you begin putting your plan into action, you will need to evaluate your progress by reviewing your aims, goals and objectives. This evaluation can be quite simple, you should step through each of your objectives, and determine if that objective was met or not. If you didn't meet your objective, try to work out reasons for this. If your objectives have been met, can you show that they led to improved water quality?

Review your plan

Even if you have achieved all that you originally planned, you need to go back and examine the whole process. Even the most successful program can be critically reviewed and improved.

Download the fact sheet

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