Abstract
This article details a case study of a voluntary, decentralized institutional arrangement for nonpint source water pollution control used in the Root River watershed in southeastern Wisconsin. This watershed was chosen because of its mix of urban, agricultural, and urbanizing land uses. The project objectives were to monitor and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of a voluntary, decentralized institutional system, to specify deficiencies of the approach and suggest means to correct them, and to use the conclusions to speculate about the need for regulations regarding nonpoint source pollution control or the appropriateness of financial incentives for nonpoint source control. Institutional factors considered include diversity of land uses in the watershed, educational needs, economic conditions, personality, water quality, number of agencies involved, definition of authority, and bureaucratic requirements
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Atlantic Environmental Associates, Inc. 1981. Water quality planning in the northeast and midwest: the section 208 experience. Atlantic Environmental Associates, Inc., Waltham, MA. 219 pp.
Bowen, G. E. 1981. Institutional barriers confronting implementation of section 208 areawide wastewater management plans in the southeast. University of Tennessee Graduate School of Planning Research Center. Knoxville, TN., Vol. 1, Technical Report—Institutional barriers, 184 pp.; Vol. 2, Technical Report—Issues, problems, and data, 181 pp.; Vol. 3, Annotated bibliography, 43 pp.
Bower, B. T., and others. 1977. A context for choosing implementation incentives for environmental quality management.Environmental Comment. January, pp. 5–10.
Davey, W. B. 1977. Conservation districts and 208 water quality management. National Association of Conservation Districts, NTIS Reports #PB 274 411 8G1, Washington, DC: 349 pp.
Dornbusch, D. M. & Company, Inc. 1980. Institutional problems of water quality planning in urbanizing areas of the Pacific Northwest. David M. Dornbusch & Co. San Francisco, CA. 75 pp.
Holmes, B. H. 1980. Institutional bases for control of non-point source pollution under the Clean Water Act—with emphasis on agricultural nonpoint sources. US Environmental Protection Agency. NTIS # PB 80-132665, Washington, DC: 165 pp.
Phillips, Brandt, Reddick, Inc. 1980. Institutional problems of water quality planning in urbanizing areas. US Dept. of Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology. Washington, DC, 50 pp.
Poertner, H. G. 1980. Stormwater management in the United States: a study of institutional problems, solutions and impacts. US Dept. of Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology, Washington, DC. 240 pp.
Rowe, P. G., and others 1978. Principles for local environmental management. Ballinger Publishing Co., Cambridge, MA. 272 pp.
Sawicki, D. S., and L. B. Judd. 1982, Institutional arrangements for controlling nonpoint source water pollution: Wisconsin's Root River watershed. University of Wisconsin Center for Great Lakes Studies, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 130 pp.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission) 1977. Areawide water quality management plan for southeastern Wisconsin. Waukesha, Wisconsin. Vol. 1, Inventory findings, 438 pp.; Vol. 2, Alternative plans, 617 pp.; Vol. 3, Recommended plan, 309 pp.
-, 1980. A nonpoint source water pollution control plan for the Root River Watershed. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 37, Waukesha, Wisconsin. 105 pp.
Whipple, W., Jr., D. J. Rosen, and L. Champney 1979. Institutional aspects of water resources management at substate level. Rutgers, The State University, Rutgers, NJ. 20 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sawicki, D.S., Judd, L.B. Nonpoint source water pollution abatement and the feasibility of voluntary programs. Environmental Management 7, 453–463 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867125
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867125