Watershed management is very important to maintaining a clean water source as well as maintaining the habit for indigenous species. So before we get into the details let's clarify a few things. What is a watershed? A watershed is the area of land that drains into any specific body of water, water will collect sediment and other materials as it drains down to the main body. Now that we know what a watershed is, what is watershed management? Watershed management is more or less the implementation of land use practices in order to protect the water quality. With that out of the way, let us endeavor to explore why watershed management is important and how it works.
As previously mentioned, watershed management protects main bodies of water from pollution and ensures the safety and longevity of indigenous creatures. All activities that occur within a watershed affect it some way, whether it be agriculture or lawn and garden care, therefore finding ways to regulate or incentivize such activities is key to watershed management. |
There are many different strategies when it comes to watershed management, that come from many different municipalities (as there can be several different political factions that feed into one watershed). Most are political plans of action and partnerships that do their best to protect key waterways. When planning for watershed management it is important to inventory everything that could potentially affect the waterway that is being fed into, for example, drainage systems, soil types, land cover, pollution points, and indigenous species.
The next step after cataloging such data is to take action and build local partnerships with residents, landowners, farmers developers and really any other influential parties. Once these alliances have been made, it is time to get into the fray and take action. Such actions generally include reducing paved areas near water bodies, improving infrastructure such stormwater drains and water treatment plants, incentivizing or homeowners to handle their water use differently (ie washing their car over their lawn) and really just educating the populace as a whole how to better protect our waterways.
While there are technologies such as dams, trenches, pumps and irrigation practices that factor into watershed management, it is more of a political and social act than a technology. Watershed management requires action on an individual level so jump on in.
The next step after cataloging such data is to take action and build local partnerships with residents, landowners, farmers developers and really any other influential parties. Once these alliances have been made, it is time to get into the fray and take action. Such actions generally include reducing paved areas near water bodies, improving infrastructure such stormwater drains and water treatment plants, incentivizing or homeowners to handle their water use differently (ie washing their car over their lawn) and really just educating the populace as a whole how to better protect our waterways.
While there are technologies such as dams, trenches, pumps and irrigation practices that factor into watershed management, it is more of a political and social act than a technology. Watershed management requires action on an individual level so jump on in.