2008 USDA-CSREES National Water Conference Sparks, NV Assessing the Value and Scope of National and Regional Integrated Water Program Websites

Text: The regional, state and local efforts that constitute the National Water Program network are challenged by the need to leverage limited resources, foster program growth, and gather the support of our partners and funding agencies to expand our efforts. The New England Regional Website and the National Water Program Website were created to improve communication and coordination within the CSREES/Land Grant Institution network and with its national and regional partners. In 2007, we asked various members of the National Water Program network to complete an online survey to assess the value and scope of these websites. Of the 42 respondents to the National Website survey, most were Extension educators, researchers and water quality coordinators at 1862 Institutions and learned about the website from a colleague within their regional water program or the CSREES National Water Conference. Respondents are using the website to learn about programs, collaborate and inform others. A significant number of respondents agreed that the website is easy to use, its content is useful and adequate, content of National themes section is useful, well organized and adequate, it is accessible, it links to partnering programs where appropriate, and they are satisfied with the website. Responses were similar with a New England audience in the survey about the New England Website. To maintain the excellence of these websites, we concluded that we should develop a format for rotating successful program summaries, expand the content for additional National themes while also refreshing the existing expanded themes, and develop new assessment tools to continue to improve the websites.