This guidebook provides a step-by-step watershed planning process for communities to develop a comprehensive management plan that will improve water quality.

... is intended to help communities, watershed organizations, and state, local, tribal and federal environmental agencies develop and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. It was designed to help any organization undertaking a watershed planning effort, and it should be particularly useful to persons working with impaired or threatened waters. EPA intends for this handbook to supplement existing watershed planning guides that have already been developed by agencies, universities, and other nonprofit organizations. The handbook is generally more specific than other guides with respect to guidance on quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures, and tracking progress once the plan is implemented.

A key question for individuals involved in managing watersheds is, "What is an effective process that will integrate science, policy, and public participation in order to help manage water resources effectively?" The Watershed Project Management Guide presents a four-phase approach to watershed management that is based on a collaborative process th

This guide has been created to assist developers of watershed-based plans in South Carolina. It serves as an overview of the watershed planning process, including helpful tips and links to resources.