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Watershed Analysis and Management (WAM) Guide for Tribes
September 2000
EPA Watershed Analysis and Management ProjectForewordThe Watershed Approach provides a unique and effective way to assess the environment, identify problems, establish priorities for preservation or restoration, and implement solutions. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW) and the American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) have collaborated on a joint project to develop a comprehensive Watershed Analysis and Management (WAM) methodology that addresses Tribal and State watershed management issues. The objective is to produce a customer-tailored watershed analysis and management framework that includes geographic-specific analytical assessment methods and application techniques for addressing a wide range of environmental issues. The goal is to develop a well-defined process that recognizes the explicit objectives of multiple stakeholders and results in watershed management plans that reflect cultural values and consider economic impacts and critical environmental resources. Typical problems addressed by the WAM approach include the impact of timber operations on erosion, water quality, and fish habitat and the impacts of various land use plans on pollutant runoff. While each watershed area is unique and has a distinctive set of issues, a consistent approach can be used to ensure credible and defensible evaluations. The WAM approach utilizes five steps that can be applied to all watersheds: Scoping (identify issues and stakeholders); Watershed Assessment (acquire and analyze data); Synthesis (integrate results of the assessment); Management Solutions (develop options for improving conditions); and Adaptive Management (monitor conditions and modify plans). The WAM process is also sufficiently flexible to accommodate varying levels of community participation, technical assessment, and management plan development. This guide outlines two general levels of watershed assessment. A Level 1 assessment involves specific guidelines, tools, and methods to characterize watershed conditions based primarily on existing information. This level of analysis provides a rapid means to assess a watershed and establish priorities. For example, a Level 1 assessment would be an effective way to address Unified Watershed Assessments (UWAs) under the Clean Water Action Plan. A Level 2 assessment utilizes more quantitative tools and methods involving the acquisition of field data and use of detailed scientific analyses. This level of assessment would be utilized for the comprehensive analysis of a watershed where major economic or environmental issues are at stake, such as TMDLs. The Watershed Assessment is divided into a series of technical modules (Community Resources, Aquatic Life, Water Quality, Historical Conditions, Hydrology, Channel, Erosion, and Vegetation) that can be used independently and modified as necessary to meet the specific goals of the Tribe, State, or local community. The WAM project has been funded by a system development grant, under OWOW, with the Pacific Watershed Institute, concurrent with pilot applications of the approach, through AIEO grants, by tribes representing different ecological environments, project objectives, and regulatory issues. The four Tribes are the Penobscot Nation (Maine), the Prairie Band of the Potawatomi (Kansas), the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Arizona), and the Quinault Indian Nation (Washington). Each Tribal pilot is implementing a WAM process that addresses issues within its watershed at a level of analysis appropriate to their needs and the available resources. The development of the WAM system and pilot applications began in 1997 and will be completed in 2000. A related effort using a Watershed Approach to TMDLs is being undertaken with the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona. The WAM team assisted in development and training for the Clean Water Action Plan, UWA Nationwide Tribal Workshops held in 1999. The WAM team also participated in watershed information transfer through National Conferences and Workshops ranging from Tribal environmental planning through community level Smart Growth issues. Plans for 2000 and beyond include training workshops, participation in watershed leadership and mentoring programs, additional community and Tribal applications, and information transfer through participation in related conferences and workshops. The Tribal pilots are a continuing key resource for all WAM efforts. For additional information contact Martin Brossman at the EPA (202) 566-1210 or brossman.martin@epa.gov.
AcknowledgementsContributors to this guide include (in alphabetical order):
This project was funded by a generous grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Martin Brossman was invaluable in providing guidance and encouragement on the project. The tribal pilot projects involving the Penobscot Indian Nation (Maine), Potawatomi Tribe (Kansas), White Mountain Apache Tribe (Arizona), and Quinault Indian Nation (Washington) provided excellent examples for applying watershed analysis in different regions of the country and using different approaches. These pilot projects were funded by a generous grant from the EPA's American Indian Environmental Office. This guide is patterned after a number of watershed analysis methods developed in the Pacific Northwest. These efforts to promote watershed analysis have been an invaluable source of information for this guide and include the Washington State methodology developed for the Washington Forest Practices Board; the federal guide for watershed analysis produced by the Regional Ecosystem Office; and the Oregon watershed assessment manual created for the Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board. For more information on the WAM Guide and/or the Pacific Watershed Institute please contact:
Table of ContentsThe Watershed Analysis and Management Process
Step 1: Scoping Step 2: Watershed Assessment Step 3: Synthesis Step 4: Management Solutions Step 5: Adaptive Management Technical Modules
Aquatic Life Water Quality Historical Conditions Hydrology Channel Erosion Vegetation
Acronym List
WAM Guide Home / Table of Contents
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