What is Watershed Management?
Watershed management is a term used to describe the process of implementing land use practices and water management practices to protect and improve the quality of the water and other natural resources within a watershed by managing the use of those land and water resources in a comprehensive manner. What is Watershed Management Planning? Watershed management planning is a process that results in a plan or a blueprint of how to best protect and improve the water quality and other natural resources in a watershed. Very often, watershed boundaries extend over political boundaries into adjacent municipalities and/or states. That is why a comprehensive planning process that involves all affected municipalities located in the watershed is essential to successful watershed management. Why is watershed management important? Runoff from rainwater or snowmelt can contribute significant amounts of pollution into the lake or river. Watershed management helps to control pollution of the water and
Watershed management in its simplest terms means managing wisely upstream so that downstream remains natural and healthy. The Conservation Ontario model has received worldwide recognition over its 50+ year history and the watershed is now recognized as one of the premier natural ecosystem units on which to manage resources.
Watershed management is a decision-making process regarding uses and changes to the land and the water within a watershed. Human changes directly alter the delivery of water, sediments, and nutrients within the watershed, and thus fundamentally change the aquatic system within the watershed. Watershed management encompasses the entire watershed system, from uplands and headwaters, to floodplains, wetlands and river channels. Common goals for land and water resource management must be developed. Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan (IDEP) The IDEP is the Township’s plan to identify and eliminate illicit connections and discharges. The federal law defines illicit discharge and illicit connection as follows: Illicit discharge – the discharge of untreated sanitary wastewater (including industrial and commercial wastewater) or other polluting materials into a river, stream or other water body from: • improper sewage connections – such as sources of sanitary sewage which should be connected to
A watershed is the land area where water collects and drains onto a lower level property or drains into a river, ocean or other body of water. Watershed management is the integration and coordination of activities that affect the watershed’s natural resources and water quality. It brings together services like flood protection, water conservation, preserving and creating open space for recreation and habitat, and reducing pollution of water resources. A new Watershed Management Division was created to implement this County-wide priority to improve the overall quality of life for residents of Los Angeles County. OUR MISSION Watershed Management Division plans and supports delivery of an advanced system for flood protection, improving water quality and conserving water, while maximizing habitat, open space, and recreational opportunities.
