FEATURED PUBLICATION:
Our National Wetland Heritage: A Protection Guide

INTRODUCTION

Wetland and watershed management is an approach that integrates wetland ecosystem management with traditional water and watershed management goals and techniques. It manages water resources, taking into account the functions and values of wetlands, and it manages wetlands in broader water regime and ecosystem contexts. It can be called watershed management, river basin planning, greenway planning, water planning, advanced identification of wetlands, wetland planning, multi-objective floodplain management, or by another name.

An individual, organization, agency, academic institution, or other party can initiate the establishment of a wetland and watershed planning and management effort. Leaders of the effort require the ability to draw other individuals, groups and organizations together to form and implement a common vision for wetlands and water resources. The essential steps of establishing a wetland and watershed plan vary somewhat and are listed in the Common Questions brochure enclosed.

Local governments often begin a wetland and watershed management planning effort in response to current water resource related issues and problems, land use planning goals, etc. Many local governments have found it useful to begin efforts by inventorying flood impacts, reduced water quality, loss of habitat, and other water problems. Such a survey may provide the basis and incentive for more detailed mapping of wetlands and more detailed watershed assessment and planning to remedy problems and meet future needs. Section 7 provides additional information about technical resources and funding available.

The publications included here discuss in some detail the characteristics of watersheds, the importance of wetlands to watersheds, and how to develop and implement a watershed management effort.

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RESOURCES

Publications:

• Primer:  New York Watersheds NYS DEC, May 1995.  For additional copies call 518-485-8743.
• Wetlands: A Key Link in Watershed Management (A Guide for Watershed Partnerships). Conservation Technology Information Center. For additional copies call 765-494-9555.
• Common Questions: Establishing Local Government Wetlands and Watershed Management Programs.  Association of State Wetland Managers, 2001.  For additional copies call 518-872-1804.
• Cooperative Watershed Protection: What Makes It Work? Cornell Cooperative Extension Local Government Program, 1996. For additional copies call 607-255-2080 or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/publications. 
• Watershed Conflict Resolution: Some Guiding Principles. Cornell Cooperative Extension Local Government Program, 1996. For copies call 607-255-2080 or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/publications. 
• Building Watershed Partnerships: Case Studies in Watershed Alliances. NYSDEC Water Week publication, 1997. For additional copies call 518-485-8743.

Relevant Websites:

Conservation Technology Information Center “Know Your Watershed”    www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/
EPA Office of Water – Watershed Protection              www.epa.gov/owow/watershed
EPA Office of Water – Watershed Academy              www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy
NYSDEC – Division of Water                                       www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/index.html
EPA – Why Watersheds?                                              www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/why.html
EPA – Surf Your Watershed                                         www.epa.gov/surf
EPA – Watershed Information Network                         www.epa.gov/win
Center for Watershed Protection                                    www.cwp.org
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation            www.dec.state.ny.us
NYSDEC Division of Water                                          www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/index.html
Top Ten Watershed Lessons Learned                            www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/lessons
Federal Clean Water Action Plan                                   www.cleanwater.gov
NYSDEC “Take Credit” Watershed Recognition program     www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/stewop1.pdf      

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Wetland and Watershed Protection Toolkit: Guidance Materials
for Local Governments in New York State
February, 2002
Preface | Importance of Wetlands | Establishing a Wetland and Watershed Program
Federal and State Regulatory Programs | Local Government Methods of Wetland Protection
Non-Regulatory Methods of Wetland Protection
Outreach and Information Campaigns Technical and Financial Assistance
Special Topics | NYS Directory | Bibliography | Glossary | UPDATES

Although preparation of this “Wetland and Watershed Protection Toolkit for New York” was funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division under Grant Assistance Agreement # X992998-99-0, the views represented in this product should not be interpreted to be those of the US Environmental Protection Agency.