Watershed protection information for local government officials and employees.
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 or 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 are the implications for local government?
- Benefits
Coordination and communication between resource agencies will improve. Better information will be provided to local entities. Funding, such as nonpoint source 319 funds, wastewater treatment plant state revolving loan funds (SRF) and drinking water SRF funds, will be targeted toward environmental solutions. There will be more opportunities for local government to influence decisions and priority setting.
- No new requirements or regulations
This effort is designed to enhance existing activities, not to add a new layer of bureaucracy or regulatory burden. If your watershed is shown to have problems, the responsible agencies will work with you to evaluate options and develop a plan to resolve the problem. Actions may include changes in permit limits, funding for improvements and other control options. Appropriate enforcement actions will be pursued only when necessary
- Priority watersheds and funding
Local watershed groups have the opportunity to supplement data collected by resource management agencies on their watershed; this information can be used to influence priority setting within a basin and ultimately may help determine where grants and loans are awarded.
- Watershed management plans
Better information at the local level will help local governments plan for and address environmental issues as well as direct other agency resources to local problems.
When and how will KPDES permits be affected?
- All KPDES permits within a basin will be scheduled for renewal in the same year.
- Water supply planning
Water supply management plans are available for each county. Implementation of these plans may be assisted by drinking water state revolving loan funds (SRF). These plans must be updated every five years.
Local input is important!
Your watershed will best be served if you define your problems at the local level, then propose your own solutions. Working closely with the Watershed Steering Committee and River Basin Team will improve your opportunities for successful resolution of the problems.
