Watershed Management
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a given river, lake or
other water body. Watersheds include both streams and rivers
that convey water as well as land surfaces from which water drains
into those channels.
A watershed is technically a drainage basin because it acts as a
funnel by collecting all the water within the area covered said basin
and channeling into a waterway. Unlike municipal boundaries,
watershed boundaries are defined by nature, and can be
separated from adjacent basins by a geographical barrier such as
a ridge, hill or mountain.
California is divided into nine regions based on major watersheds,
and the State and Regional Water Boards are responsible for
protecting California's water resources.
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a given river, lake or
other water body. Watersheds include both streams and rivers
that convey water as well as land surfaces from which water drains
into those channels.
A watershed is technically a drainage basin because it acts as a
funnel by collecting all the water within the area covered said basin
and channeling into a waterway. Unlike municipal boundaries,
watershed boundaries are defined by nature, and can be
separated from adjacent basins by a geographical barrier such as
a ridge, hill or mountain.
California is divided into nine regions based on major watersheds,
and the State and Regional Water Boards are responsible for
protecting California's water resources.
Why is watershed management necessary?
Watershed plans provide direction and target resources for better
management and restoration of the watershed. The plan serves
as a blueprint for improving water quality, reducing flood damage,
and protecting natural resources in the watershed - and for
preventing existing watershed problems from worsening. Good
watershed management allows multiple jurisdictions within a
watershed to coordinate efforts and accept their responsibility for
the impact their actions have upstream and downstream.
Watershed plans provide direction and target resources for better
management and restoration of the watershed. The plan serves
as a blueprint for improving water quality, reducing flood damage,
and protecting natural resources in the watershed - and for
preventing existing watershed problems from worsening. Good
watershed management allows multiple jurisdictions within a
watershed to coordinate efforts and accept their responsibility for
the impact their actions have upstream and downstream.
What is included in a watershed management plan?
The State and Regional Water Boards in California have adopted
the Watershed Management Initiative (WMI) in 1995 as a strategic
plan for our watersheds and is available to read in full here.
The watershed management process uses a series of steps to
characterize existing conditions, identify problems, define
objectives, prioritize issues, target partnerships, and develop and
implement strategies. The EPA has a good handbook to develop
watershed plans available online and an University of
California-Davis has created a California Watershed Assessment
Manual and Guide that can work for any area in the state. Finally,
the Coastal Conservancy has released a Watershed Planning
Guide, explaining the process in depth.
An example of a local watershed plan is the Tujunga Watershed
Project which is based in the Tujunga/Pacoima area of Southern
California.
The State and Regional Water Boards in California have adopted
the Watershed Management Initiative (WMI) in 1995 as a strategic
plan for our watersheds and is available to read in full here.
The watershed management process uses a series of steps to
characterize existing conditions, identify problems, define
objectives, prioritize issues, target partnerships, and develop and
implement strategies. The EPA has a good handbook to develop
watershed plans available online and an University of
California-Davis has created a California Watershed Assessment
Manual and Guide that can work for any area in the state. Finally,
the Coastal Conservancy has released a Watershed Planning
Guide, explaining the process in depth.
An example of a local watershed plan is the Tujunga Watershed
Project which is based in the Tujunga/Pacoima area of Southern
California.