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 every thing 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?

• Benefits
  A variety of information regarding the condition or our watersheds will be available to communities. Some types of government funding will be targeted toward solving environmental problems. Watershed management provides opportunities for citizens to influence management decisions and set priorities where they live.
• Drinking Water
  Managing activities that pollute a watershed will result in a safer source of your drinking water. Also, the less pollution in the source, the less the cost to treat it before it is sent to you. Every time you turn on the tap to take a shower, wash the car or water the lawn, you're using water that had to be treated at some cost to you, the user. Watershed management also means managing the amount of water used. Wasted water can strain water systems and create the need to expand existing systems or build new treatment plants, increasing the cost of water.
• Wastewater
  Managing the amount of water used can also result in wastewater treatment savings. So will managing potential pollutants that drain to storm sewers. All this water must be treated before it is discharged to community rivers, streams and lakes where it travels downstream to become another community's drinking water.
• Flooding
  Better planning for use of property in a floodplain, including construction of homes and businesses, can reduce the risk of flooding and the tragedy and cost that result from it.
• Drought
  Wise use of water resources extends the use of current water supplies for more uses, more users and more time during periods of low rainfall.
• Recreation and beauty
  The better care we take of our watersheds, the safer and more enjoyable boating, fishing and swimming will be.

What can I do?

• In the lawn and garden
  Use fertilizers and pesticides only as directed on the labels. If you have questions about their proper use, contact your local extension agents. Landscape your yard with plants native to the area; they will need a minimum of water and fertilizer. When lawns or plants need water, water deeply and infrequently. Also, water in the evening when evaporation loss is less, or use a drip irrigation system.
• Around the house
  Dispose of left-over chemicals and wastes properly so that they do not run off to streams or soak into the groundwater. For example, used automobile oil can be recycled; leftover pesticides should be used, donated to a someone who will use them or taken to a hazardous waste disposal center.
• In your watershed
  Protect wetlands that serve as natural buffers against pollution, soil erosion and flooding. Leave vegetation buffer strips along lake and stream banks to prevent erosion and runoff into the water. Don't build a house or business in the floodplain.
• In your community
  Learn about watershed and natural resource issues in your community. Get involved in decision-making processes that affect your life. Water supply planning councils, zoning and utility commissions and local chapters of various interest groups all provide opportunities to have an impact on how your watershed is managed or protected. Form a local watershed task force to address important issues in your watershed.
• More information is available on Kentucky Division of Water's Nonpoint Source Pollution Web site.