It is suggested that the stakeholders organize themselves like a congress, to be supported by a technical staff. The stakeholders will have a chair and a vice chair, to be elected by the stakeholders. The work will be carried out by committees which report their findings and recommendations to the general assembly. All issues will be debated and voted on by the stakeholders in the assembly.
Typically, there will be a technical committee, ways and means committee, social committee, conflict resolution committee, and implementation committee. The membership of each committee will be selected from among the stakeholders. The committee members will select a chair to conduct the committee meeting and to report the findings to the stakeholder assembly. The chair and vice char of the stakeholder group and the chairs of the various committees will form the executive committee.
The technical committee will conduct research on all technical issues. It may form subcommittees to address specific questions that may arise. The ways and means committee will determine the funding sources, budget needs, and find a way to make the funding request. The implementation committee will study cost sharing methods most acceptable to all parties concerned. It will provide oversight to the implementation of the watershed management plan. The conflict resolution committee will establish rules for civil conduct among stakeholders. It will mediate and resolve any personal conflicts between stakeholders. the social committee will organize field trips and social activities to build mutual trust.
Committee members typically represent stakeholders, but non-stakeholders may be recruited to offer their expertise on the watershed or the consensus-building process.