Wastershed Plans

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Development of a watershed based plan is the key step in the efforts to restore our rivers and streams from the impacts of nonpoint sources of pollution. The plans focus on addressing issues identified by the impaired streams list and TMDLs, with the ultimate goal of restoring the waterbody so it can meet water quality standards. The NPS Program may be able to provide technical and/or financial assistance for plan development; to learn more contact your regional Basin Coordinator.

The watershed based plan (WBP) is a document that includes an introduction (background and geographic extent of the watershed), followed by nine elements that must be included in order for the plan to qualify for §319 funding. Click here to review West Virginia's WBPs.

Note: After a WBP is complete or nearly so, the next step is to determine if its restoration goals have been reached. Water bodies are considered no longer impaired if the adequate data shows WQ standards that resulted in the listing have been achieved. Click here to learn more.

Watershed Planning Guidance

• Watershed Academy Web: Introduction to Watershed Planning

• USEPA: Resources for Watershed Planning

• Putting Together A Watershed Management Plan - A Guide for Watershed Partnerships

• A Guide to Using Natural Resource Information in Local Decision Making

• Guidance Manual for TMDL Implementation

• Users Guide to Watershed Planning in Maryland

• Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manuals

• Planning a Successful Project to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution

• WVDEP Watershed Protection Plan

• USEPA Healthy Watershed Protection

Models and Other Resources Related to Watershed Planning

• Load Estimation Models

• STEPL Online

• AMDTreat

• Bacteria Reduction

Note: In certain cases §319 funds may be available for healthy watersheds that are not yet impaired, but may be threatened. In this case the plan becomes a Watershed Protection Plan (WPP). WPP's format is similar to a WBP.