Date of Defense

12-9-2025

Date of Graduation

12-2025

Department

Public Affairs and Administration

First Advisor

Kristina Wirtz

Second Advisor

Daniella Schröter

Third Advisor

Ann Miles

Abstract

The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council (KRWC) plays a central role in protecting, restoring, and promoting the long-term health of the Kalamazoo River watershed, a geographically expansive and ecologically complex system facing persistent challenges from legacy contamination, nonpoint source pollution, land-use pressures, and inequitable access to watershed resources. This honors thesis presents an exploratory organizational evaluation of the KRWC, assessing its role and relevance within the watershed, the effectiveness of its programs and partnerships, the strengths and limitations of its governance structure, and opportunities to strengthen its long-term sustainability and impact.

Guided by principles of Practical Participatory Evaluation (PP-E) and Fourth Generation Evaluation (FG-E), this evaluation project employs a primarily qualitative methodology. Data sources include a review of organizational documents and public-facing materials, field observations from meetings and events, informal stakeholder interactions, and analysis of publicly available environmental and programmatic data. Rather than measuring long-term ecological outcomes, the evaluation focuses on organizational processes, perceived impact, and mission alignment during an evaluation period covering – roughly - the 2025 fiscal year.

Findings indicate that the KRWC functions as a critical intermediary among government agencies, scientific institutions, community organizations, and residents. Its programs - including watershed education, community cleanups, recreational paddling events, youth engagement initiatives, water-quality monitoring, and public health outreach - collectively advance its mission of watershed protection and restoration. A broad and diverse partnership network enables the organization to extend its reach despite limited staff capacity, while its donor base reflects strong regional support from public agencies, foundations, corporations, and individual contributors.

The evaluation also identifies key challenges and gaps. While the KRWC benefits from a highly skilled, technocratic board and leadership team, community representation - particularly from historically underserved populations, youth, and Indigenous groups - remains limited. Furthermore, geographic engagement is uneven across the watershed, and financial sustainability is constrained by reliance on grants and short-term funding. Opportunities exist to expand partnerships in underrepresented counties, diversify funding sources, strengthen equity-focused programming, and formalize pathways for deeper community and volunteer engagement.

Overall, this evaluation concludes that the KRWC is a mission-aligned, scientifically grounded, and community-oriented organization with a strong foundation for future growth. Addressing identified structural and engagement gaps will enhance its resilience and position to play an even more influential role in watershed stewardship, public health, and community wellbeing across southwest Michigan.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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