After the department of natural resources’ completion of the initial regional watershed assessment, and after the council’s prioritization of the regional watersheds, the council shall designate one or more of the agencies represented on the council to facilitate the development and implementation of local, community-based subwatershed improvement plans.

 In facilitating the development of community-based subwatershed improvement plans, the agency or agencies designated by the council shall, based on the results of the regional watershed assessment program, identify critical subwatersheds within priority regional watersheds and recruit communities, citizen groups, local governmental entities, or other stakeholders to engage in the assessment, planning, prioritization, and implementation of a local community-based subwatershed improvement plan. The agency or agencies designated by the council may assist in the formation of a group of initial local community-based subwatershed improvement plans that can be implemented as pilot projects, in order to develop an effective process that can be replicated across the state.