Publication Summary

This manual has been developed as an aid to citizens, local governments, Indian tribes, and others interested in watershed planning under the Watershed Management Act. The manual presents the requirements of the Watershed Management Act, but also goes further by offering a variety of suggestions for navigating the planning process to achieve the objectives stated in the law. Except where clearly indicated in the text, the approaches offered in this manual are voluntary. It is anticipated that each planning unit will use elements of this manual as they deem appropriate. A full copy of the Watershed Management Act is attached as Appendix A for further reference to the law′s specific provisions.

This manual has been developed as an aid to citizens, local governments, Indian tribes, and others interested in watershed planning under the Watershed Management Act. The manual presents the requirements of the Watershed Management Act, but also goes further by offering a variety of suggestions for navigating the planning process to achieve the objectives stated in the law. Except where clearly indicated in the text, the approaches offered in this manual are voluntary. It is anticipated that each planning unit will use elements of this manual as they deem appropriate. A full copy of the Watershed Management Act is attached as Appendix A for further reference to the law′s specific provisions.

It is expected that this manual will be updated and refined over time, particularly as the first group of planning units to receive funding make progress in 1999. This will permit the manual to more fully convey not only the technical aspects of watershed planning, but also how to effectively engage participants in making the critical tradeoffs at the heart of the watershed management process.