Abstract
In citizen observatories, the observations, insights and involvement of 'ordinary' citizens - alongside those of scientists and
professionals - can be included in earth observation, environmental conservation as well as decision making. Facilitated by
information and communication technologies (ICTs), such ICT-enabled citizen observatories have the potential to generate
fundamental changes to existing governance structures. Based on an action research approach in three European cases, this paper
examines the extent and nature of such changes to existing water governance structures two and a half years into the WeSenseIt
project 'Citizen Observatories of Water' which focuses on flood risk management. Our study suggests that in line with a nuanced
(i.e. non-normative) understanding of water governance that conceives governance goals as locally-defined rather than
universally applicable, the changes resulting from the introduction of citizen observatories are equally location-specific and
locally-shaped, presenting relative changes in all three cases that are limited in absolute terms regarding greater participation. The
idea of 'citizens as social sensors' is embraced in all three cases; however, changes towards fundamentally more involved citizen
roles with higher impact in flood risk management are not (yet) detectable.