Publications

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Other EPA Publications

Note: Publications are listed by date e.g., most recent are listed first.

Girl Scout Water Drop Patch Project, March 2008.

EPA's Watershed Tools Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp., 254KB, about PDF) (EPA 840-F-05-003) is a handy two-page fact sheet that describes some of the Agency's best Web sites, publications, and videos supporting watershed management.

Targeted Watershed Grants – 2004 Annual Report, December 2005, EPA 840-R-06-001
The Targeted Watershed Grants 2005 Annual Report highlights the success of EPA's Targeted Watersheds Grant (TWG) Program. The report informs public officials, states, watershed practitioners and the public about the TWG grant program and the progress and accomplishments of the TWG recipients who are working to address environmental challenges in watersheds across the country.

Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters (Draft), October 2005, EPA 841-B-05-005
This draft handbook is intended to help communities, watershed organizations, and state, local, tribal and federal environmental agencies develop and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. It was designed to help any organization undertaking a watershed planning effort, and it should be particularly useful to persons working with impaired or threatened waters.

Community-Based Watershed Management: Lessons from the National Estuary Program (NEP), Feb. 2005, EPA 842-B-05-003
This document is designed for all individuals and organizations involved in watershed management, including states, tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations. This document describes innovative approaches to watershed management implemented by the 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs). The NEPs are community-based watershed management organizations that restore and protect coastal watersheds. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience, readers will learn how the NEPs organize and maintain effective citizen involvement efforts, collect and analyze data, assess and prioritize problems, develop and implement management plans, and communicate results of program activities.

Community Culture and the Environment: A Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place (PDF) (2 pp., 30KB, about PDF), Nov. 2002, EPA 842-B-01-003
The Guide explores the concepts of community and culture and provides tools for identifying, assessing, and working cooperatively within the social dynamics and local values connected to environmental protection. These tools will help you define your community, identify stakeholders, enhance education and outreach, build partnerships and consensus, identify resources, plan and set goals, and integrate local realities with ecological issues. The Guide is designed for people involved in community-based initiatives, including those affiliated with community and watershed-based organizations, universities, and federal, state, tribal, and local agencies.

Evaluation of States' Watershed Approaches (PDF) (68 pp., 173KB, about PDF)
Over the past decade, more than 20 states have adopted a statewide watershed approach in the management of their water programs. A statewide watershed approach consists of five key components: (1) the delineation of a state into natural geographic (e.g., watershed/basin) management areas; (2) a series of management steps or phases to guide regulatory and non-regulatory actions within geographic areas (i.e., monitoring, assessment, planning, implementation); (3) the integration of Clean Water Act and other water resource programs through the coordinated implementation of management steps and the formation of partnerships; (4) a process for involving stakeholders; and (5) a focus on environmental results.

National Watershed Forum Recommendations and Discussion Group Proceedings of the National Watershed Forum:

Final Report of the National Watershed Forum (PDF) (76 pp., 1MB, about PDF), June 27-July 1, 2001
Discussion Group Proceedings of the National Watershed Forum (PDF) (73 pp., 704KB, about PDF), June 27-July 1, 2001

Protecting and Restoring America's Watersheds: Status, Trends, and Initiatives in Watershed Management, June 2001, EPA 840-R-00-001.

Watershed Success Stories: Applying the Principles and Spirit of the Clean Water Action Plan, Sept. 2000.

New Strategies for America's Watersheds, 1999.
328 page book published by Committee on Watershed Management, National Research Council in 1999 which provides a comprehensive look at the rise of "watershed thinking" among scientists and policymakers and recommends ways to steer the nation toward improved watershed management.