Origin  On October 18, 1997 – 25 th Anniversary of Clean Water Act – Federal agencies were asked to rededicate their efforts to cleaning up the Nations waters.  In February 1998, USDA and DOI were directed to develop a unified federal policy for managing federal lands and resources.  Completed, October 18, 2000

Unified Federal Policy:  A Framework for watershed based management  A consistent approach to managing Federal lands and resources  A way to improve water quality, health of aquatic ecosystems and provide for sustained use of our natural resources

Participants  U S Department of Agriculture  U S Department of Interior  U S Department of Commerce  U S Department of Defense  U S Department of Energy  U S Environmental Protection Agency  Tennessee Valley Authority  U S Army Corps of Engineers

The Watershed Approach  Streams and other bodies of water are a result of the lands that drain to them – A watershed  Management requires an understanding of land and its relationship to water  That understanding must be used in defining management programs and actions  Control of nonpoint sources based on land management practices

The Watershed Approach Provides:  An understanding of watershed condition  An understanding of landscape capability  A basis for managing stable ecosystems

Why a Unified Federal Policy  Federal land management needs to be consistent across agencies  Most watersheds have more than one land owner  Coordination with all land owners

Goals of the proposal  Provide a common approach to watershed management, consistent with individual agency mission, responsibilities and resources  Meet Federal, State and local water quality requirements to the same extent as others  Enhance collaboration and coordination

Commitment All agencies will implement this policy as individual agency laws, missions, and fiscal and budgetary authorities and resources permit

Elements of the policy 1. A common science-based approach to watershed assessments for Federal lands  A watershed management approach for protecting and restoring watersheds  Improve compliance with water quality requirements under the Clean Water Act  Enhance collaboration with States, Tribes and others

Where does the policy apply? Only Federally managed land and resources

Current Status of Policy  Formation of a Federal Watershed Management Implementation Team  Letter of invitation was sent to Federal agencies by USDA & DOI in November 2000  On hold / Agency Implementation

Administration’s Water Policy  Utilize existing experience & success  Watershed approach  Grass roots approach  Unified Federal Policy – “what’s in a name” “Framework for consistent Watershed Based Management on Federal Lands”

Watershed Management for Nonpoint Sources (Adaptive Management / Quality Assurance) Land Management Prescriptions (LMPs) Management Experience Research Implement LMPs Monitor Implementation Effectiveness Mitigate Validation Confirm Design Adjust Design