EPA Guide to Watershed Management to Help Restore and Protect Waters

Jan. 10, 2006

EPA's Office of Water has published a guide to watershed management as a tool in developing and implementing watershed plans. The draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters is aimed toward communities, watershed groups and local, state, tribal and federal environmental agencies.

"This handbook will help anyone undertaking a watershed planning effort, but it should be particularly useful to persons working with impaired or threatened waters," said EPA assistant administrator for water Benjamin H. Grumbles.

The 414-page handbook is designed to take the user through each step of the watershed planning process:

-- watershed monitoring and assessment;

-- community outreach;

-- selection and application of available models;

-- best management practices;

-- effectiveness databases;

-- implementation;

-- feedback; and

-- plan adjustment.

The handbook is intended to supplement existing watershed planning guides that have been developed by agencies, universities and other nonprofit organizations. It is more specific than other guides about quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures and tracking progress once the plan is implemented.

EPA is making this draft document widely available with the purpose of having it used and tested by a variety of watershed partnerships, whose advice will be considered in developing the final version. Comments should be addressed to [email protected] no later than June 30, 2006.

Source: EPA

Sponsored Recommendations

Blower Package Integration

March 20, 2024
See how an integrated blower package can save you time, money, and energy, in a wastewater treatment system. With package integration, you have a completely integrated blower ...

Strut Comparison Chart

March 12, 2024
Conduit support systems are an integral part of construction infrastructure. Compare steel, aluminum and fiberglass strut support systems.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.