Focus: Impaired Water Bodies

The watershed project is focused on reducing the pollution of water bodies that have already been identified as being affected by pollution and are, therefore, regarded as "impaired".


How It Works

The project's Resource Management Specialists contact selected landowners who have land that is likely to contribute significant amounts of pollutants to the impaired water bodies.

The specialists provide the owners with information about watershed impairment, how improved management practices can improve their operation, what assistance is available and the voluntary nature of the project.

The selected owners are offered assistance in developing a plan employing land management practices that will benefit their operation while improving water quality within the state. The plan will concentrate on Best Management Practices that will qualify the landowner for financial assistance in implementing those practices.

Program Neutral Planning Techniques

The Resource Mangement Specialists will utilize program neutral planning techniques. Program neutral planning is the development of a plan without regard to funding sources. This means that no specific fund source will be targeted. The result is a plan that better fits the needs of the landowner and the resource by not limiting funding opportunities to a single source whose qualification requirements may frequently change.

The Process

Planning assistance offered by the project includes:

Conducting a survey of land's soil, water, plants, animals, air and cultural resources.
• Determining the landowner's needs and preferences
• Identifying land management alternatives
• Preparing a map of existing and planned management practices
• Developing the landowner's preferred plan
• Selecting appropriate financial assistance sources
• Completing financial assistance application forms