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School of Marine Affairs > Research > Program on Ocean Governance (POG) > Seminar on US Ocean Governance > Place-based Collaborative Decision Processes Involving Stakeholders: An Example from San Juan County, WA

Place-based Collaborative Decision Processes Involving Stakeholders: An Example from San Juan County, WA

Terri Klinger
Assistant Professor, School of Marine Affairs
University of Washington

San Juan County (WA) has implemented a process by which citizen-stakeholders contribute to decisions made by the county government regarding marine resource issues.

Elements of the process include:

• Formation of an advisory committee consisting of representative stakeholders (e.g., local industry and commerce; landowners; NGOs, tribes; scientific community)
• Provision for the advisory committee to receive and respond to citizen comment
• Provision for the advisory committee, with the approval of the county commissioners, to submit grant proposals, conduct research, and take action on marine resource issues
• Provision for collaborative actions with other local governments, tribes, and NGOs

Representative actions taken by the committee include:

• Designation of voluntary MPAs for bottomfish recovery
• Identification of forage fish habitat for improved shoreline management
• Protection of nearshore water quality through land-use planning and watershed protection
• Consideration of endangered species issues

Demonstrated outcomes of this process include:

• Increased public participation in decision making at the local level
• Increased communication and collaboration among competing local interests
• Increased sense of stewardship among residents
• Increased data collection and dissemination, with application to local planning
• Increased collaborative agreements with neighboring local governments and tribes

Shortcomings of this process:

• Lack of regulatory authority over marine resources
• Insufficient expertise and funding to address many local resource problems
• Efficacy of process highly dependent on public participation

Caution: This process constitutes an effective overlay but not substitute for state and federal regulation of marine resources.

UW School of Marine Affairs 3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98105-6715 uwsma@u.washington.edu