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Those who directly benefit from Project Watershed proposals include landowners (both rural and urban) who have property receiving flood protection, needing drainage or requiring protection from soil erosion and its effects. Primarily, the direct benefits of the works and services being proposed are increased land productivity and reduced flood damage.

Flood protection is an important component of Project Watershed. Parts of the Waikato River flood plain are heavily dependent on regular maintenance of stopbanks, flood channels and emergency systems. A major factor influencing the size (and therefore maintenance cost) of river floodways and stopbanks is the peak flow generated from the development of the catchment. This is reflected in the ’contributor’ effect described below. Land use development within the catchment has a direct effect on this peak flow.