WATERSHED INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT Module 7, part A – Issues and Description
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s2 Watershed Inventory and Assessment Issues and Description it’s about land use Inventory Indicators that measure watershed functions Assessment (evaluation/monitoring) Issues and Description Identify Needs Project Organization Assessment Team Public Input Baseline watershed information
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s3 Issues and Description Unit Identify needs What is a watershed assessment? Issue identification Organization Project management Community component Assessment team Baseline watershed information Baseline assessment Components for detailed characterization
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s4 Why inventory and assess a watershed? Holistic picture of the watershed, as a dynamic system Better understanding of the ecological integrity, historical changes, and future needs Identifies impacts to water resources Knowledge for protecting and/or restoring resources through the development of action plans and monitoring strategies
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s5 What is a watershed assessment? Evaluation of how well a watershed is working Steps for the watershed include: identifying issues examining the land use history describing features (ecological, biological, chemical, physical, social) evaluating various resources (unique lands, steep slopes, cold water fishery, endangered species, forest types, etc.)
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s6 Conditions for assessment? Incorporate natural resource planning to antiquated land use plan? Desire to protect an undisturbed resource? Threat to a valuable resource? Need to restore a lost resource? Determine which features and processes are working well and which are not.
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s7 Organization Goal of management plan is to protect, preserve, restore natural resources through Assessment – What is happening in the watershed? Planning – What needs to be done Implementation – How do you get there? Evaluation – Did you make it?
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s8 Identify Project Manager Project coordination Facilitator at stakeholder meetings Assists with data gathering Compiles assessment and evaluation results MN Sea Grant, 2004
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s9 Community Component Build support for project Solicit input Identify issues and needs MN Sea Grant, 2004 Desotelle Consulting, 2004
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s10 Assessment Team Stakeholders of watershed Federal, state, local agencies and Tribes Private sector Nonprofits Citizens Scientists, educators Build a partnership Form committee(s) Technical advisory committee Citizen advisory committee
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s11 Watershed Components Functions for water resources and land use Indicators, a measurement of functions Valuation of functions (i.e., excellent, good, fair, poor condition) Incorporation into watershed management plan Peterson Environmental and Desotelle Consulting, 1997
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s12 Example of Functions and Indicators Associated with Land Use Land useForestryCrop-land grazing Urban areasMiningRoad networks Habitat Function Channel modification Pool quantity/ quality Channel modification Pool quantity/ quality Flow alteration Channel modification Channel modification Pool quantity/ quality Flow alteration Channel modification Pool quantity/ quality Water quality Function Temperature Turbidity Fine sediments Temperature Dissolved oxygen Turbidity Temperature Dissolved oxygen Turbidity Suspended sediments Heavy metals Turbidity Suspended sediments Fine sediments
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s13 Baseline watershed information Define watershed & subwatershed boundaries Measure existing impervious cover Assemble historical monitoring data Assess existing mapping resources Conduct an audit of local watershed protection capability
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s14 What is a watershed? A watershed is the area of land that drains to a particular lake, wetland or stream. MN Sea Grant NEMO Program
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s15 Watershed Delineation Map outlining watershed boundary Topographic map used help find watershed dividing lines Basis for overlays (i.e., land use, water resources, political jurisdictions, etc.) Center for Watershed Protection, 1998
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s16 Watershed Boundaries
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s17 Impervious Surfaces Indicates land uses causing pollution Inhibits groundwater recharge Prevents natural processing of pollutants Accumulates pollutants Express route MN Sea Grant NEMO Program
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s18 ADAPTED FROM SCHUELER, ET. AL., 1992 Relationship between % Imperviousness and Water Quality STREAM DEGRADATION WATERSHED IMPERVIOUSNESS (%) DEGRADED PROTECTED IMPACTED National NEMO Program and Center for Watershed Protection
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s19 Existing to potential impervious surface > 25% 10 to 25% <10% PERCENT IMPERVIOUS MN Sea Grant NEMO Program
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s20 Historical monitoring data helps High quality data can reduce costs of baseline monitoring Developing watershed goals Future watershed monitoring Calibrating a watershed model Provide relative quality of subwatersheds
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s21 Key issues to explore Settlement patterns Direct impacts to stream channels Riparian vegetation patterns and change Natural and human- caused disturbance such as floods and fire Fish presence and distribution Resource use through time
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s22 Assess existing mapping resources National NEMO Program
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s23 Audit local watershed protection capability Examination of the capability to implement watershed protection tools Analysis of local plans, ordinances, funding, staff, review processes Implementing the results of an inventory and assessment is only as good as the programs that can provide the services
Developed by: Desotelle Updated: Dec 2004 U3-m7a-s24 References Cowardin et al. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States FWS/OBS-79/31. Shaw Samuel P. and Fredine C. Gordon. Wetlands of the United States Circular 39. Fish and Wildlife Service. Center for Watershed Protection. Rapid Watershed Planning Handbook EPA Surf your watershed Indiana Dept of Environmental Management, Office of Water Quality Minnesota Forest Resources Council. Sustaining Minnesota Forest Resources: Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines for Landowners, Loggers, and Resource Managers Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual Rosgen, Dave. Applied River Morphology Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa springs, CO. Illustrations by Hilton Lee Silvey. Snyder, Doug. A GIS Based Wetland Assessment Methodology for Urban Watershed Planning Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources.