Comparing Frontline Managers' Perceptions of Local Capacity for Integrating IWM: A Case Study in Cyanobacteria

Watershed management is a complex process, with a myriad of stakeholders that need to work collaboratively to achieve desired results. Ontario endorses an integrated watershed management (IWM) approach to address water quality issues. Many water quality issues, including cyanobacteria blooms that are increasingly present in Ontarios inland lakes, represent wicked problems. Wicked problems are complex and require sufficient local capacity and collaboration to successfully manage. There is a dearth of literature investigating local capacities to implement IWM successfully. This research used cyanobacteria blooms as a vehicle through which to investigate the capacity of regional authorities to implement IWM. Three primary research questions were addressed, first, how does local capacity compare in different financial, institutional, technical, political, and social contexts? Second, what is the value of regulatory authority for managing bodies implementing IWM? Finally, what are some of the most pressing challenges that managing bodies face while implementing IWM?