1. Watershed Assessment and Planning

2. Review Watershed Hydrology Watershed Hydrology Watershed Characteristics and Processes Watershed Characteristics and Processes Watershed Management Watershed Management Watershed Planning and Assessment Process Watershed Planning and Assessment Process Linking watershed processes with assessment and planning Linking watershed processes with assessment and planning

3. Review Hydrology Hydrology the study of H 2 O in all its forms the study of H 2 O in all its forms Watershed Hydrology Watershed Hydrology The effects of land characteristics and management on water quality and quantity. The effects of land characteristics and management on water quality and quantity. Watershed Management Watershed Management Process of managing resources of a Watershed to meet social goals –(sustainable) Process of managing resources of a Watershed to meet social goals –(sustainable) Condition that soil and water resources are not adversely affected (use is sustainable over long term) Condition that soil and water resources are not adversely affected (use is sustainable over long term)

4. Watersheds Unifying area for evaluating watershed processes and water quality data. Unifying area for evaluating watershed processes and water quality data. Know all of the inputs & outputs: (Water Balance) Precipitation Infiltration Deep drainage Evapo-transpiration Runoff (Erosion)

5. Watershed Management (and Planning) Watershed Management (and Planning) Recognize the linkages between upstream and downstream areas and the interrelationships across the landscape among soil and water, water quality and quantity, land use & other resource values. Recognize the linkages between upstream and downstream areas and the interrelationships across the landscape among soil and water, water quality and quantity, land use & other resource values. Overview

6. Watershed Characteristics: Climate: temperature, precip, bio-region Soils, vegetation, landuse Topography (hydrologic processes) Shape of the watershed Shape of the watershed Drainage density Drainage density Drainage pattern Drainage pattern Stream orders Stream orders Stream permanence Stream permanence Need to be able to differentiate among overland flow, base flow and channel processes Review

7. Land use/management Economic Value Review Watershed Hydrologic Processes

8. Watershed Processes (and WQ) Drainage pattern Drainage pattern Stream orders Stream orders Stream permanence Stream permanence Climate region Climate region Homogeneity of landuse Homogeneity of landuse Watershed geology and geomorphology Watershed geology and geomorphology Influenced/Dependent on:

9. Watershed Planning Platform for Environmental Assessment and decision making. Platform for Environmental Assessment and decision making. the original role of watershed management was “water yield” the original role of watershed management was “water yield”

10. Watersheds Can be assessed at a variety of scales Can be assessed at a variety of scales Unit order watershed (1 ha) Unit order watershed (1 ha) Basin scale Basin scale Heterogeneity and complexity increase as increase in scale Heterogeneity and complexity increase as increase in scale To evaluate Watershed issues need to examine the data and their implications at the appropriate scale(s) To evaluate Watershed issues need to examine the data and their implications at the appropriate scale(s)

17. Upper Watershed

18. Middle of Watershed

19. Lower Watershed

20. Watershed Planning Approach Watershed Resource Profile A descriptive set of data portraying the significant natural resource features of the watershed. A descriptive set of data portraying the significant natural resource features of the watershed. Rapid Watershed Assessment An evaluation of watershed resources to determine the size, scope, and value of natural resource needs. An evaluation of watershed resources to determine the size, scope, and value of natural resource needs.

21. Watershed Profile A descriptive set of data portraying the significant natural resource features of the watershed. A descriptive set of data portraying the significant natural resource features of the watershed. Physical characteristics Physical characteristics Soils, Geology, Vegetation Soils, Geology, Vegetation Land Use Land Use Precipitation/hydrology Precipitation/hydrology Common Resource Area Common Resource Area Census/Social data Census/Social data Resource Concerns Resource Concerns

22. A Watershed Approach: Is hydrologically defined Is hydrologically defined geographically focused geographically focused includes all stressors (air and water) includes all stressors (air and water) Involves all stakeholders Involves all stakeholders includes public (federal, state, local) and private sector includes public (federal, state, local) and private sector is community based is community based includes a coordinating framework includes a coordinating framework Strategically addresses priority water resource goals (e.g. water quality, habitat) Strategically addresses priority water resource goals (e.g. water quality, habitat) integrates multiple programs (regulatory and voluntary) integrates multiple programs (regulatory and voluntary) based on sound science based on sound science aided by strategic watershed plans aided by strategic watershed plans uses adaptive management uses adaptive management

23. A Watershed Approach: What are the goals of watershed planning? What are the goals of watershed planning? How do you know if the “plan” has worked? How do you know if the “plan” has worked?

24. EPA Watershed Planning Identification of the causes and sources that need to be controlled to achieve load reductions in the watershed- based plan A description of the process that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the plan and achieving its goals. designation of critical areas tied to BMPs. Estimate of the load reductions expected for the Management efforts.

25. EPA Watershed Planning A set of criteria that can be used to determine if load reductions are being achieved over time If not – a set of criteria to determine if the watershed based plan needs to be revised. http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135- 3313_3682_3714-69714--,00.html

26. BMPs Best Management Practices Best Management Practices What are they and how do we evaluate them? http://www.bmpdatabase.org/

28. US EPA- We can best understand the overall health of aquatic systems on a watershed basis. watershed Using watersheds, we can take a broader view of the environment, which is complicated and interconnected with our activities across local and regional scales. Defining A Healthy Watershed But what is a “healthy” watershed??

29. “Health” Human health? Human health? Indicators and Standards for assessing Indicators and Standards for assessing

30. Rangeland Health (Natural Research Council 1994) “The degree to which the integrity of the soil and ecological processes of rangeland ecosystems are maintained” Forest Health (U.S. Forest Service) “A condition wherein a forest has the capacity across the landscape for renewal, for recovery from a wide range of disturbances, and for retention of ecological resiliency, while meeting current and future needs of people for desired levels of values, uses, products, and services” Some “Health” Definitions

31. Watershed Health (Jones et al. 2002) “A state in which resource management activities sustain human needs and uses of the watershed while ensuring that ecological function is maintained” “Functional” components of a Watershed: Hydrologic Function Ecological Function Human/Societal Function Do we have indicators that we can use to evaluate the “health” of our watersheds?

32. Factors indicating stream health Water quality Water quality Tied to intended use Tied to intended use Stream flow Stream flow Quantity Quantity Timing Timing Physical habitat Physical habitat Morphology Morphology Riparian vegetation Riparian vegetation Surface / groundwater interactions Surface / groundwater interactions Biologic / hydrologic interactions Biologic / hydrologic interactions http://www.phillywatersheds.org

33. http://www.mtnvisions.com/Aurora/healthst.html

35. Cornell.edu http://www.fws.gov/ http://www4.agr.gc.ca

36. Discussion on Healthy Streams http://www.grmw.org/

37. Discussion on Healthy Streams

39. Evolving channel in Vermont http://www.anr.state.vt.us

40. Discussion on Healthy Streams http://www.grmw.org/

41. Discussion on Healthy Uplands What are some of the indicators?

45. Homework Describe a local watershed – Describe a local watershed – Characteristics Characteristics Estimate an annual water balance for that watershed Estimate an annual water balance for that watershed Annual precipitation Annual precipitation http://climate.usurf.usu.edu/products/data.php http://climate.usurf.usu.edu/products/data.php