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Watershed Management Plans

 

The primary purpose of the watershed management planning process is to identify implementation actions needed to protect and restore designated uses and resolve water quality and quantity concerns. Setting both long-term goals and short-term objectives is a major part of that process. Once the goals and objectives were established, actions were then identified to achieve those goals and objectives.

Long-term goals are normally thought of as broad targets that could take multiple permit cycles (5 years per cycle) to achieve or even approach the ultimate goal. Long-term goals include both the protection and restoration of designated uses of the receiving waters and attaining compliance with any storm water regulations such as the MDEQ and USEPA water quality limitations.

Short-term measurable objectives define more specific targets toward achieving the long-term goals. Short-term objectives normally include targets that can be achieved within a permit cycle (five years).

The Red Cedar River Watershed Management Plan and the Looking Glass River Watershed Management Plan each agreed on the establishment of the same10 long-term goals and 55 specific objectives. The long term goals identified in the Watershed Management Plans are as follows:

Goal 1: Educate the Public about the Importance of Protecting and Managing the Watershed.
Goal 2: Provide a Sustainable and equitable Funding Source.
Goal 3: Encourage Water Quality Friendly Development.
Goal 4: Restore and Enhance Recreational Uses Through Development of a Watershed Recreation Plan.
Goal 5: Protect and Enhance Habitat for Wildlife and Aquatic Animals through Development of a Watershed Habitat Plan.
Goal 6: Protect and Increase Wetlands through Development of a Watershed Habitat Plan.
Goal 7: Provide Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Practices for Municipal Operations.
Goal 8: Strive to Eliminate Pathogens to Meet Total and Partial Body Contact Recreational Uses.
Goal 9: Encourage Water Quality Friendly Agricultural Practices.
Goal 10: Watershed Management Plan Updates.

The Red Cedar River and the Looking Glass River Management Plans then identified 188 specific action items that addressed the goals and objectives. A complete copy of the Watershed Management Plan and corresponding Action Items for the Red Cedar River and the Looking Glass River Watersheds (updated as of September 2007) can be found on the GLRC website at www.mywatersheds.org.