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Registered AKO users may access the Army Water Programs area for more detailed information on watershed and storm water management and related Army documents.
Introduction

Watershed and storm water management, also known as water resource management or total water quality management, is an approach to water quality improvements that focuses on the broad watershed level rather than individual water resources, such as river segments or wetlands. A watershed is a region that shares a common outlet for water drainage. Originally spurred by Vice President Al Gore's 1998 Clean Water Action Plan, it is driven by the Clean Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Coastal Zone Management Act, and Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000. Watershed and storm management encompasses areas such as water quality and source water protection standards.

How does watershed and storm water management impact the Army?

The Army prepares and revises watershed management/protection plans, and organizes all activities that may affect water quality within a watershed planning unit, in a manner that complies with these plans and policies. Any construction or earth-moving operations are evaluated to ensure observance of appropriate federal, state, or local requirements for soil erosion control. Installations take action to reduce natural soil erosion, which protects the quality of nearby waterways.

How does the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) assist the Army in the area of watershed and storm water management?

USAEC's role in promoting environmental compliance for the Army in the area of watershed and storm water management includes:

  • Reviewing all CWA and SDWA rulemakings;
  • Preparing Army impact analyses and comments on potential rulemakings;
  • Preparing guidance documents, including pollution prevention options;
  • Developing tools to assist installations in complying with CWA and SDWA requirements including step-by-step procedures, protocols, worksheets, answers to commonly asked questions, and additional resources;
  • Supporting the goal of eliminating negative impacts of Army installations on the watersheds in which they are located, by advising wise program management decisions, necessary infrastructure improvement, and efficient operational and maintenance procedures;
  • Working with the Office of the Director of Environmental Programs (ODEP) and the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to develop compliance strategies;
  • Tracking the Army's progress on meeting DoD and Army environmental goals;
  • Supporting installations when requested;
  • Maintaining contact with the EPA to stay abreast of current and future initiatives;
  • Along with ODEP, representing the Army on DoD committees; and
  • Hosting discussion groups within the Army to exchange lessons learned and share information.
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