ABSTRACT
Non-point pollution is increasing, as row crops genetically modifi ed to be input responsive has increased the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the Corn Belt. With corn and soybean prices at record highs, land previously used as conservation reserves and buffers has been moved to row crop production. As states claim the need for fi scal austerity, enforcement of already weak regulations has declined. In such cases, watershed health cannot be left solely to the governments-local, state, and federal-although all should be reminded of their obligation to protect the environment to insure the well-being of the people. In this case study, we look at the emergence of a civil society organization, the Raccoon River Watershed Association (RRWA) and its role in co-management of the watershed. It
addresses the question of how grass-roots organizing can contribute to co-management of a watershed. It also addresses the degree to which a civil society organization can contribute to pluralistic management through collaboration with state and market institutions, sharing the benefi ts and responsibilities of watershed management. The complexity of the issues and the hesitancy of the state actors make this a complex and dynamic process. The Community Capitals Framework provides a mechanism to analyze the process of co-management and its effectiveness.
