Resources

Why Watersheds?
Wondering what all the fuss over watersheds is about?  Or are you looking for ways to sell the idea of watersheds to your community? Here you will find entry-level material introducing the basic concepts of watersheds, how land use changes and urbanization negatively impact aquatic systems, and why watershed management is critical for maintaining and restoring our nation’s valuable water resources.

Watershed Management
You need it, we’ve got it - to get you started on watershed planning. Look here for background information on why a comprehensive watershed approach is useful in managing your aquatic resources, step-by-step guidance on navigating the planning process yourself; and searching for desktop and field methods to evaluate the overall conditions of your watershed.

Better Site Design (BSD)
Looking for alternatives to conventional development? Like Low-Impact Development, Environmentally-sensitive design, and Green Infrastructure, the Better Site Design techniques seek to minimize the negative impacts of new development on water resources. Here you will find resources related to BSD techniques, development code recommendations, and local incentives to adopt BSD. Recent materials related to the design of redevelopment and infill sites are also available.

Special Resource Management
Looking for specific guidance on protecting special resources such as urban forests, drinking water reservoirs, coral reefs, or isolated wetlands? Here you will find white papers, techniques journals, and other guidance we've developed specific to these resources.

Controlling Runoff and Discharges
Looking for solutions to nasty pipe discharges? Here you will find our materials related to preventing erosion and controlling sediment from construction sites; managing post-construction stormwater runoff; and eliminating non-stormwater discharges from sewers, septics, and other illicit connections. For extensive detail on these topics, we refer you to our sister site www.stormwatercenter.net.

Restoration and Watershed Stewardship
Looking for educational materials about how to protect watersheds? Here you will find watershed stewardship guidance for residents, businesses, and agency staff.  Materials include residential behavior surveys, rain barrel and rain garden design specs, pollution prevention fact sheets, and examples of successful watershed education efforts from around the country.

Model Ordinances
Looking for good examples of ordinance language to adapt for your local community? Here you will find both model and real-world ordinances from all over the nation used to better protect the environmental resources of a community. If you've got an innovative, approved ordinance or program that you think others could use, please send us a copy to include in our library.

Center for Watershed Protection © 2008
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Phone: 410-461-8323 | Fax: 410-461-8324 | Email: center@cwp.org