as water is central to quality of life, issues of community development, growth, agriculture and natural resources and all of these issues will come into the fray of decision making about how to protect water. It will be the challenge of organizers to move projects forward while addressing these linkages. At the same time, water quality is ultimately an issue that forces a recognition of connections and interactions. The initiative will have to be nested in the local context, but capable of making connections across political boundaries to ensure good management. It is our hope the indicators above address these distinctions, and provide a widely applicable guide for 26 understanding the process of community organization around water quality protection.