The Rocky Mountain region has been described as the "Headwaters of America." The waters that flow from here benefit more than 100 million people. But the headwaters region is experiencing unprecedented population growth, and with it increased erosion, pollution, and scarcity problems that threaten the abundant, clean water needed to support healthy communities.

In response, numerous grassroots watershed protection groups have been created in the headwaters region. These groups are made up of the farmers, conservationists, public officials, and citizens who are concerned with protecting the quantity and quality of their water supply. It's very important that these groups succeed, because they represent a major grassroots effort by local people to become educated and take responsibility for the health of our watersheds.

Many of these watershed groups begin with one source of funding and a small, dedicated staff. They often lack the organizational and fundraising skills needed to keep their groups running.

Trees, Water & People's two-year Protecting the Water of the Arid West (PWAW) program, funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, was created to address this need. PWAW provides strategic, capacity-building, and outreach assistance to watershed organizations in Colorado, Utah and Montana. Over the duration of the program, TWP will help them grow sustainably and therefore better protect our essential water resources.

The organizational development training includes workshops, individual training, coaching, and evaluations for watershed group staff, board of directors, and volunteers, with an emphasis on fundraising and leadership development. Information and results from this effort will be shared nationally through River Network's Watershed Support Network and other national organizations, communicated regionally through the partners, and will form the basis for a 2009 regional roundtable.