Watershed Planning

Turtle-Flambeau Flowage

2011

Watershed Planning Background

1970’s – Water Quality Planning (CWA Sec. 208)Wastewater Facility Upgrades

1980’s – Basin Plans & Priority Watersheds (NR121)

Transition to address nonpoint source issues

1990’s –Integrated Planning, “State of the Basin” Reports

Forests, Lands, Wildlife, Fisheries, Water

2000’s – Water Database CreationLarge databases created, training & sharing

Water Quality Planning & Reporting Water Quality Report to Congress – Clean Water

Act. Evaluation of resource attainment for

Fish and Aquatic Life, Fish Consumption, Recreation, and Public Health and Welfare

Overview, Recommendations for programs to manage, protect and enhance water resources

Purpose of Planning – State Programs

Time & structure for evaluating monitoring results Framework for advancing resource

recommendations Forum for facilitating cooperative projects Baseline assessments for future resource

evaluation Federal & State Clean Water Act & Water Quality

laws

Kohlsville River Restoration

Watershed Planning Process

Assess Waters – Monitoring Data, Methods

Summer/Fall

Winter Clean Water Act Report (Even Years) Inventory/Assess Watershed Partnership Outreach – Recommendations

Spring & Summer Public Review, Finalization

Process

Write Plan

Role of Watershed Planning Analysis of water condition for

standards attainment evaluations Time focused on analysis of

monitoring datasets Resource-based recommendations

for work products and priority setting Structure for prioritizing actions for

specific watersheds (impaired, analyzed)

Outreach, coordination framework for water issues with nonprofits, agencies, public

Share knowledge of resource condition… enhance overall interest & awareness of aquatic resources & issues

Watershed Planning

Poor Water Quality? Evaluate for Threatened, Watch or Impaired Lists

Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent Summarize, Make Recommendations

Fish & Aquatic Life: • Rivers/Streams (Fish, Bugs) + Additional as needed• Lakes (TSI Analysis) + Additional as needed

Fish & Aquatic Life: • Rivers/Streams – Biology, Chemistry, TP• Lakes – TSI Package, TP/Chl a

Recreation: • Beaches – e. Coli

Fish Consumption• Specific Fish Advice – GIS Analysis

Watershed Plan Content Watershed Details

Population & Land Use Hydrology Ecological Landscapes Historical Information

Water Condition Priority Issues Water Quality Goals Overall Condition Point & Non-point

Sources River & Stream

Conditions Lake Health Wetland Health Waters of Note Groundwater

Watershed Actions Projects & Grants Monitoring Studies Recommendations

Appendices Maps

Watershed location Impaired, ORW/ERW

waters Outfalls and dams Land Use Potentially

Restorable Wetlands

Timeline Aug/Sept:

Identify Watersheds

Flambeau Flowage Watershed

Watershed Assessments

Find Watershed Plans

http://dnr.wi.gov/

Example plan: