Water quality, intergovernmental cooperation and planning.

The first public forum for the Black River Watershed Planning Initiative was held Tuesday afternoon. About 30 public officials from Jefferson and Lewis counties brought up issues for the Black River, its tributaries and the land from which water flows into those streams.

The goal of the initiative is to understand the quality of the water in the watershed and the social and economic factors for people and towns in the region and to provide a plan for improving opportunities to use and protect the river.

"We want to make sure it all makes sense in the big picture," said Katie H. Malinowski, a natural resources specialist with the Tug Hill Commission.

The meeting Tuesday afternoon was the first of three in the region to determine the communities' priorities. The other meetings were Tuesday night in Lowville and tonight in Old Forge. The Black River watershed includes 1,916 square miles in Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Herkimer and Hamilton counties.

Andrew J. Raus, principal planner with Bergmann Associates, Rochester, led the forum Tuesday. The planning firm is developing and running the project. He said the three meetings would get the views of people from the entire scope of the project.

"This gives the majority of the study area the ability to have input on the purpose of the project," he said. "We'll look at the watershed in a comprehensive manner."

Officials at Tuesday's meeting in Watertown identified many opportunities that the watershed provides for recreation, development and a source of water and power.

They said the regional challenges include overcoming a public attitude that takes the water for granted, choosing only good development and enhancing cooperation among local governments and state and federal governments.

The project will be running at the same time as the Black River Watershed Management Plan, which is funded by the state Department of State. The planning initiative has a mix of private and public funding sources, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Beaver River Fund and member items from state Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome.

The project is contracted through the town of Greig and coordinated by Lewis County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The Tug Hill Commission and state Department of Environmental Conservation also are working with the district on the project.