What is a watershed?
It is the land across and under which water flows on its way to a stream, river, lake or other water body. Each of us lives in a watershed.
What is watershed management?
Since everything we do in a watershed affects the soil, water, air, plants and animals in it, watershed management means reducing those activities that result in runoff of soil and pollutants that might negatively affect the quality of our streams, lakes and groundwater and that affect droughts and flooding because of too little or too much water in the watershed.
Why watershed management?
Water is vital to the life and growth of our communities. Your watershed is not only the source of your community's drinking water, but is essential to the local economy through use in industry and agriculture. Water provides scenic beauty and areas for recreational activity. If a watershed is not managed properly, these uses of water can be threatened by pollution, drought, or flooding, which cost money and can cost lives.
What is the watershed framework?
In an effort to coordinate resource management activities among many agencies and organizations, the state has adopted a Watershed Management Framework. Its mission is to serve as a means for integrating the programs, tools, and resources of multiple stakeholder groups to better protect, maintain, and restore the ecology of watersheds and support sustainable uses of watersheds. Coordination of activities under the Framework will take place at three levels: at the state level by the Statewide Steering Committee; at the local level by local watershed task forces; and at the regional level by river basin teams, which serve as intermediaries between the state and local groups.
What does this mean to me?
- No new requirements or regulations
There are no new laws or requirements under the Watershed Framework. The Agricultural Water Quality and Forest Conservation Acts set up a way to deal with most agricultural and woodland management water quality problems. The Watershed Management Framework, on the other hand, provides an expanded forum for dealing with agricultural issues along with other watershed issues that affect the agricultural community such as adequate water supplies.
- Monitoring to determine areas needing assistance
Information to identify problems that affect the agricultural community or problems caused by poor farming practices is important. Many citizens and agencies will be collecting information to help determine the areas needing assistance. These priority watersheds may receive preference for additional funding or technical assistance.
- Management strategies will be best with your input
The Watershed Framework provides opportunities for you to make suggestions as to how problems in your watershed can be addressed. In priority watersheds, Local Watershed Tasks Forces need your input in planning and carrying out solutions for dealing with the identified problems.
Better information can be provided to local people. Government funding, such as nonpoint source 319 funds, will be targeted toward priority environmental solutions. There will be more opportunities for citizens to influence decisions and priority setting.
What can I do?
Continue using best management practices. These will protect your farm and your water supply. Under the Agricultural Water Quality Act, you must have a farm management plan which was required to be implemented by the year 2001. Contact your local extension agent or conservationist for more information. The Forest Conservation Act requires specific practices related to logging. Also, find out if your farm is in a priority watershed.
Learn about watershed and natural resource issues in your community. Get involved in decision-making processes that affect your life. Water supply planning, zoning, utility commissions and local chapters of conservation groups all provide opportunities for you to impact how your watershed is managed or protected. Form a local watershed task force to address important issues in your watershed.
