Flooding in New England is often seen as a coastal concern, but inland, in the mountainous rural communities of New England, river floods present serious threats to communities and livelihoods. Recent large storm events such as Tropical Storm Irene, and rising concerns over climate change, have catalyzed conversations over the vulnerability of communities across inland New England to flooding. This thesis examines two very different watershed organizations in New England; the White River Partnership and Deerfield Creating Resilient Communities. Both are working towards flood resilience in their communities. My approach is not to judge “best practices” or to evaluate what is better about one versus the other, but rather to highlight a range of approaches, institutions, policies and applications that enable flood resilience. By examining two very different institutions in depth, I will identify, explain and explore a variety of ways in which regional watershed partnerships can build partnerships and improve local flood resilience.