New Government Watershed Handbook Released

A guide to watershed management to help various organizations develop and implement watershed plans is now available. The Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters is aimed toward communities, watershed groups, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies. This handbook contains in-depth 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. EPA will be accepting comments and suggestions on the document in the coming year to incorporate in the final version of the handbook. The handbook is available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/"