This paper discusses the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Assessment and Planning Project which has
successfully incorporated stakeholder outreach and communication in a rural / semi-rural
watershed to implement a novel approach to watershed assessment and planning. The
project, driven by a stakeholder group of local citizens, is unique in its proactive
approach: rather than reacting to existing water quality problems and focusing on source
identification, the project seeks to maintain the good water quality existing in the
watershed, and identify management practices to minimize threats to water quality as the
watershed is pressured to urbanize over time. Includes tables, figure.