Abstract
Findings in this thesis suggest leaders in government agencies will be more effective if they focus on creating and maintaining relationships with local stakeholders. Facilitation and project management professionals can provide stakeholder mapping and other tools to help leaders learn from past efforts to address misunderstandings and develop shared expectations moving forward. This requires information sharing and engaging subject matter experts early in the process to minimize conflict and establish project management plans to improve the engagement process. Building relationships, trust, and avenues of communication will take time and effort with Delta stakeholders because of the past failed efforts. These findings may provide decision-makers an opportunity to evaluate current stakeholder engagement efforts and identify what might be done moving forward to address the needs of the Delta, mitigate risk, and move from planning to project implementation.