Integrating Wetlands into Watershed Restoration Plans
The Wetland Program at MDEQ, Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership, Big Hole Watershed Committee, and Greater Gallatin Watershed Committee, with funding from an EPA Wetland Program Development Grant started a pilot project in early 2011 to incorporate wetlands into the watershed restoration planning process. The goals of this project are:
- Incorporate wetland specific goals and objectives into comprehensive watershed restoration plans;
- Increase the capacity of local governments and watershed groups to protect and restore wetlands through watershed restoration plans;
- Demonstrate the steps, techniques, and tools available for incorporating wetlands into watershed restoration planning;
- Demonstrate how the incorporation of wetlands into watershed restoration plans can contribute to reducing pollutant loads identified in the TMDL planning process; and,
- Expand the incorporation of wetlands into other watershed restoration plans through the transfer of knowledge gained.
To accomplish this we are loosely following the template the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) outlined in "Using local Watershed Plans to Protect Wetlands" which recommends 11 steps necessary for incorporating wetlands into watershed restoration plans.
Integrating Wetlands into Watershed Restoration
Plans project links:
"Exploring your Aquatic Resources" Interactive web application
