Perceptions of Watershed Restoration

The American public worries about water quality more than any other environmental issue. While global warming is rising in importance, it is water quality that the public ties to their everyday lives. People connect the health of lakes, rivers, and streams to both their personal quality of life and their community’s economic security. A majority of the public supports watershed restoration. However, people often do not connect impaired watersheds, decreased quality of water, and the need for restoration. A 20 percent gap exists between those who want to protect water quality and those who support watershed protection. This may be because people to not perceive watershed restoration as a local environmental issue. The watershed restoration community has a great opportunity to close this gap and create further support for restoration activities.