Qualitative Evaluation of Watershed Management Projects Using Descriptive-Correlation Method (Case Study: Boostan Dam Watershed)

This study aims to evaluate the social effects of watershed management activities in terms of stakeholders’ This study aims to evaluate the social effects of watershed management activities in terms of stakeholders’ satisfaction and attitude, public participation and public acceptance of projects in many sub-basins where watershed management projects have been implemented. A descriptive-correlation methodology has been adopted. Human communities of the Boostan dam watershed selected as the study population and random sampling technique is chosen to select the samples of community. The used methodology of questionnaire and its validity confirmed by a group of experts. SPSS software was used to determine the reliability of questionnaires which resulted in the Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.87 to 0.90. In order to analyze the data, SPSS software was used, as well. The descriptive statistics revealed that awareness of villagers with respect to watershed management plans and also their involvements in the projects are too low. Therefore, the extension of educational programs in order to promote awareness of stakeholders and engaging them from stages of study, design, implementations and evaluations of projects are essential. Despite the lack of participation of local stakeholders, results indicates that public acceptance of the implemented projects is remarkably high from their perspectives, the implemented projects have been somehow successful in solving the flooding problem. However, from their points of view, the other projected functional outcomes of the projects have not been realized yet. On the other hand, implemented projects in the watershed didnt have a significant effect on the main problem of Boostan dam watershed that is the unemployment and low income level of residents. Under the conditions the rate of migration is ascending in the region. These results Correspond with research results of Azmude et. al., (2010) and mansurian and Mohammadi Golrang (2001). According to the results of villager's participation prioritization in watershed measures, it depends on their satisfaction. It also revealed that villager's relationship with experts and promoters has the least effect on their participation in watershed measures. In term of public acceptance of watershed projects, Prioritization show people accept the projects that they themselves participate in them and dont accept projects that the public representatives get involved. Also prioritization of effects of projects implementation according to stakeholders’ point of view expressed that the most effective aspect of projects implementation were the compatibility of the project location with the environment and flood prevention, respectively. In contrast projects implementation didnt have any significant effect on the villager's economy improvement and unemployment reduction.