8 Tools of Watershed Protection

By Hye Yeong Kwon, Rebecca Winer and Tom Schueler of the Center for Watershed Protection

This module outlines a watershed protection approach that applies eight tools to protect or restore aquatic resources in an urbanized or developing watershed. It describes the nature and purpose of the eight watershed protection tools, outlines some specific techniques for applying the tools, and highlights some key choices a watershed manager (used here as a catch-all term for any persons, agencies or organizations who contribute to managing watersheds) should consider when applying or adapting the tools within a given watershed.

The eight tools are (click for image):

• Tool 1. Land Use Planning
• Tool 2. Land Conservation
• Tool 3. Aquatic Buffers
• Tool 4. Better Site Design
• Tool 5. Erosion and Sediment Control
• Tool 6. Stormwater Best Management Practices
• Tool 7. Non-Stormwater Discharges
• Tool 8. Watershed Stewardship Programs

Watershed protection is about making choices about what tools to apply and in what combination. The eight watershed protection tools roughly correspond to the stages of the development cycle from initial land use planning, site design, and construction through home ownership. As a result, a watershed manager will generally need to apply some form of all eight tools in every watershed to provide comprehensive watershed protection. The tools, however, are applied in different ways depending on what type of water resource is being protected. Each of these tools is an essential element of a comprehensive watershed protection approach and their goal is to provide local communities with a realistic approach for maintaining a quality environment for future generations.

This is one of the 15 required modules in the Watershed Management Certificate Program.

Section 1 of 19

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