Notes

Outline

Rapid Watershed Planning by the Center for Watershed Protection

In This Slideshow… Why watershed plans often fail Eight steps to preparing a watershed plan Develop a baseline Select a management structure Determine budget resources Project future imperviousness Set plan goals Develop watershed and subwatershed goals Adopt and implement plans Revisit and update plans

Characteristics of Good Watershed Plans Scientifically Credible Locally Based Democratic Inclusive Effective Adaptable Economically Defensible Inexpensive to Prepare Rapid

Why Watershed Plans Often Fail Conducted at too great a scale One-time “study” rather than a continuous cycle Lacks local ownership and key stakeholder involvement Does not address significance of land use change Budget for watershed plan insufficient

Why Watershed Plans Often Fail Focuses on watershed analysis tools instead of management outcome Document too long or complex Does not assess adequacy of existing local program Plan recommendations are too general No regulation or requirement mandating the use of the plan

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Eight Steps to Prepare a Watershed Plan Step 1 -  Develop Baseline Step 2 -  Select Management Structure Step 3 -  Determine Budget Resources Step 4 -  Project Future Imperviousness Step 5 -  Set Plan Goals Step 6 -  Develop Watershed and Subwatershed Plans Step 7 -  Adopt and Implement Plans Step 8 -  Revise and Update Plans

Step 1- Develop a Baseline     Define Watershed and Subwatershed Boundaries     Identify Stakeholders     Measure Existing Impervious Cover     Assemble Historical Monitoring Data     Assess Existing Mapping Resources     Assess Local Watershed Protection Capability

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Task 1.1- Defining Watersheds and Subwatersheds

Subwatershed Delineation Define the origin point (lowest point) Identify points of maximum elevation from the stream channel (breakpoints) Connect breakpoints while crossing contour lines at right angles Check that the delineated area drains to stream Measure subwatershed area

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Task 1.2 - Identifying Stakeholders Non-Governmental Citizens Developers Consultants Environmentalists Industry Non-Profits / Watershed Organizations Government Local State Federal

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Task 1.3 - Measure Existing Impervious Cover Serves to classify subwatersheds Provides an estimate of current watershed conditions Aids in setting realistic goals Guides decision making

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Task 1.3- Measure Existing Impervious Cover Methods Direct Measurement Land Use Road Density Population Resources GIS System Aerial Photos Zoning Maps Street Maps Census Data

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Determining Impervious Cover

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Relationship Between Impervious Cover and Stream Quality

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Task 1.4 - Assemble Historical Monitoring Data May reduce cost of baseline monitoring Can help relate past land use changes         to resource condition Establishes benchmarks

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Task 1.5- Assess Existing Mapping Resources Topography Natural Resources Road/Transportation Network Geology/Soils Land Use and Zoning Floodplains Current Watershed Management Elements

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Task 1.6 - Audit Local Watershed Protection Capability Master Planning Zoning Ordinances Development Review Process Environmental Protection Regulations SWM Regulations/Criteria Program Resources (staff, budget, etc.)

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Step 2 - Select a Management Structure Functions of a Typical Watershed Management Structure:

Choosing the Best Management Structure

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Step 3 - Determine Budget Resources

Step 4 - Estimate Future Watershed Impervious Technique: Land Use Population Density Source: Master Plans Comprehensive Plans Adopted Zoning Maps Water and Sewer Service Projections Census Records/Forecasts

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Step 5 - Set Plan Goals Achievable Appropriate Realistic Affordable Practical

Steps to Determining Plan Goals Task 5.1- Interpret Goals at the Basin and Sub-basin levels Task 5.2- Develop Specific Watershed Goals and Objectives Task 5.3- Develop Specific Subwatershed Management        Objectives Task 5.4- Determine if Objectives Can Be Met With Existing    Zoning Task 5.5- Determine Whether Land Use Patterns Need to Be Shifted Among Subwatersheds

Task 5.1- Interpret Goals at the Basin and Sub-basin Levels Pollutant Load Reduction Wildlife Migration Greenways Flood Control

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Task 5.2- Develop Specific Goals for the Watershed Watershed level goals: Maintain/increase aquatic diversity Reduce sediment loading Create/maintain connected buffer system Protect floodplains from development Promote public awareness Accommodate economic development

Task 5.3 - Develop Specific Objectives for Subwatersheds Reduce channel erosion Reduce pollutant loads Protect existing utilities stream erosion damage Protect existing forest areas and wetlands Protect existing active recreational areas

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Task 5.4 - Assess Feasibility of Subwatershed Goals Are the watershed goals achievable given the current land use criteria? Classify subwatersheds based on current and future impervious cover Assess the ability of current zoning to support subwatershed goals Develop specific management strategies for subwatersheds

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Impervious Cover Analysis

Task 5.5 - Determine Whether Land Use Needs to Be Shifted Upgrade Zoning in Subwatersheds Designated to Accommodate Growth Downgrade Zoning in Subwatersheds That Exceed Their Target Impervious Cover Implement Strategies to Reduce Impervious Cover at the Site or Catchment Level

Land Use Planning Techniques Watershed Based Zoning Overlay Zoning Impervious Cap Floating Zoning Incentive Zoning Performance Zoning Growth Boundaries Large Lot Zoning Infill/Redevelopment Transferable Development Rights Limiting Infrastructure Extensions

Step 6 - Develop Watershed and Subwatershed Plans Task 6.1- Select Watershed Indicators Task 6.2- Where Needed Conduct Watershed-     Wide and Special Analyses Task 6.3- Prepare Subwatershed and Aquatic Corridor Management Maps Task 6.4- Apply Other Watershed Protection Tools

Task 6.1- Select Watershed Indicators Baseline monitoring can overwhelm budget Focus on environmental indicators of change Stormwater chemistry is already well understood Selection of long-term monitoring stations is necessary Physical and biological monitoring surveys must be repeatable Management driven monitoring is important Land use/impervious cover relationship tracking Public attitude/behavior surveys Watershed management record keeping

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Task 6.2- Conduct Watershed and Subwatershed Analyses Subwatershed Analyses Stormwater Outfall Inventory Detailed Wetland Delineation Septic System Survey BMP Performance Monitoring Stormwater Retrofit Survey Bacteria Source Survey Watershed Analyses Flood Management Analysis Pollutant Load Analysis Greenway Study

Special Surveys Conservation area mapping Fishery and habitat sampling Riparian conditions inventory Stream reconnaisance survey EPA rapid bioassessment BMP performance monitoring Bacteria source surveys Stormwater outfall survey Mapping of permeable soils Detailed wetland delineation Floodplain modeling Pollutant load modeling Pollution prevention survey Nutrient budget calculations Survey of potential contaminant sources Sanitary sewer overflow studies Hazardous materials survey Septic system survey Stormwater retrofit survey Shoreline littoral survey lake simulation monitoring In-lake monitoring Recreational use survey Wellhead protection and recharge analysis Hydro-geologic studies Analysis of groundwater resources Groundwater quality studies

Task 6.3 - Prepare Subwatershed and Aquatic Corridor Maps Subwatershed Map Comprehensive Fits on one sheet Shows entire subwatershed Shows subwatershed in relation to watershed Aquatic Corridor Map Finer scale Highly detailed Only represents area adjacent to stream

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Task 6.4 - Adapt and Apply Other Watershed Protection Tools Watershed Planning Land Conservation Aquatic Buffers Better Site Design Erosion and Sediment Control Stormwater Best Management Practices Non-Stormwater Discharges Watershed Stewardship Programs

Sensitive Stream Description:

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Impacted Stream Description:

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Non-Supporting Stream Description:

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Restorable Stream Description:

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Water Supply Reservoir Description:

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Urban Lake Description:

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Aquifer Protection Description:

Coastal/Estuarine Waters Description:

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Step 7- Adopt and Implement Plans Incorporate the stakeholders Realistically assess budget resources Make sure plan is scientifically and economically sound Mandate its use in the development process Ensure that local agencies have sufficient authority and resources

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Step 8 - Revisit and Update the Plans Should be the start of an ongoing management process Should be revisited on a regular 5-7 year cycle Land use and resource monitoring provide plan update and feedback Each iteration of the plan should take one year or less

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