| Watershed management is dedicated to solve watershed problems. These problems can be classified into four categories: lack of water quantity, deterioration in water quality, weak public participation, and low economic value for the investment in water sector. The first two categories can be combined to make up physical sustainability while the last category can be defined as economic sustainability. Therefore, integrated watershed management should be designed to achieve sustainability and public participation. This study demonstrates an innovative approach using scientific, social, and motivational feasibilities that can be used to improve the integrated watershed management. Scientific feasibility is tied to the nature of environmental problems and the scientific means to solve them. Social feasibility aims at public participation and motivational feasibility is related to economic stimulation for the stakeholders to take actions. The lack of water quantity and deterioration in water quality are environmental problems that need scientific means. However, the implementation of these means would not be achievable without the right public participation. In addition, public participation would be accelerated by economic motivation for the stakeholders to use water resources in the same direction as the watershed management. The Big Lost River in south-central Idaho has been used as an illustrated implementation of the watershed feasibilities and sustainability achievements. However, the same approach can be used elsewhere after appropriate modifications. |
