Watershed Protection Projects By State and Region
This page contains an inventory of resources that may be helpful for readers interested in taking action to identify and protect healthy watersheds. The interactive table below lists available reports, guides, datasets, tools and initiatives that can inform approaches to assessing and protecting healthy watersheds, or highlight organizations for forming partnerships.
The interactive table can be filtered by project attributes or geographic location to pinpoint resources that are most relevant to your interests. Definitions of terms used in the filters are provided below in the table. Keyword searches can also be completed using the search box on the upper-right side of the table.
| Project Name | Description | Topic | Type | Watershed Attribute Assessed | Geographic Scope | State | EPA Region | Author Afflilation | Publication Year | Publication Year Bin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics and Classification of Least Altered Streamflows in Massachusetts | USGS characterized the natural streamflow regime throughout southern New England using long-term streamflow records from 85 gaging stations considered to be least altered. Flow statistics were used to classify streams according to multiple hydrologic indices that represent different aspects of the flow regime. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 1 | U.S. Geological Survey | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Framework for Developing Suspended and Bedded Sediments (SABS) Water Quality Criteria | This document describes a stepwise process for developing criteria for suspended and bedded sediments (particulate organic and inorganic matter that are carried by water and/or accumulate in loose, unconsolidated form on the bottom of water bodies). In appropriate amounts, sediments are essential to aquatic ecosystems. They can contribute to essential habitat for aquatic species’ growth and reproduction. However, an imbalanced sediment supply can contribute to water body impairments. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Geomorphology; Water Quality | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| Field Methods for Evaluating Primary Headwater Streams in Ohio | Because many "index of biotic integrity" assessment systems are dependent upon watershed size, they often cannot be used to identify the well-being of the native fauna that survive and reproduce in small headwater stream ecosystems. This manual provides a method for assessing headwater stream habitats. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Habitat; Biological Condition | State | Ohio | Region 5 | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency | 2020 | 2016-2020 |
| Oregon Water Quality Index | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality developed a water quality index that aggregates subindex scores for water quality parameters including bacteria, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, pH, temperature and total solids using an unweighted harmonic square mean formula. The index is particularly sensitive to whichever parameter is most severely impaired. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Water Quality; Biological Condition | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Conservation Priorities for Freshwater Biodiversity in the Upper Mississippi River Basin | This study investigated biodiversity within the Mississippi River Basin and identified conservation opportunities to protect key resources and habitat areas. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Habitat; Biological Condition | Regional | Regional | Region 5; Region 7 | The Nature Conservancy | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Colorado Watershed Flow Evaluation Tool | This project demonstrates the use of flexible approaches to develop flow-ecology curves based on studies reported in the literature and demonstrates the use of flow-ecology curves to inform basin-scale water-resource planning. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Colorado | Region 8 | The Nature Conservancy | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Alabama and Mobile Bay Basin Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and applied the program's integrated assessment framework to evaluate relative watershed health and vulnerability throughout Alabama and the Mobile Bay Basin. Indicators of watershed health and vulnerability were quantified using a combination of existing geospatial data and statistical models. In addition, an assessment of hydrologic connectivity was conducted for the Mobile Bay Basin to identify portions of the basin that are highly connected to Mobile Bay and are therefore priorities for maintaining natural water, sediment and nutrient inflows to the bay. The results of the assessment can be applied identify areas that are healthy but vulnerable to future degradation which could be prioritized for watershed protection efforts. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment; Vulnerability | State | Alabama | Region 4 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| California Healthy Watersheds Workgroup | The Healthy Watersheds Workgroup is an interagency workgroup of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council. The mission of the workgroup is to promote the protection of California’s healthy streams and the restoration of threatened and impaired streams by providing timely and accurate information directly useful for resource management decisions and actions. The workgroup participated in the development of the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program funded California Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | State | California | Region 9 | California Water Quality Monitoring Council | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Social Profile for Watershed Planning | This guide provides a detailed methodology for assessing social issues as part of watershed management or conservation project planning. A social profile is a collection of baseline data that describes characteristics of a community (land use and ownership; economic vitality; community capacity; governmental and political structures; and public attitudes). The purpose of the social profile is to provide information for summarizing social issues in a watershed management plan that ultimately leads to more informed decisions by planners. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences | 2001 | 2001-2005 |
| National Extension for Water Outreach Education | Whether planning a new outreach effort or revitalizing an existing one, incorporating best education practices (BEPs) into your water management strategies is critical for achieving success. Web site resources help educators to: connect the situation with the people, choose achievable goals, select relevant outreach techniques and get measurable results. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Advancing Watershed Protection Through Land Conservation: A Guide for Land Trusts | This resource guide is intended to serve as a starting point for land trust staff unfamiliar with the Clean Water Act and EPA programs, but whose organizations are interested in integrating water quality protection in their efforts to conserve and steward lands and conduct community outreach. This guide covers fundamental topics such as key watershed terms, the watershed approach, EPA water programs and sources of funding for land conservation projects, prioritizing lands and stewardship actions for water quality protection and communication tools. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide; Funding | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan | The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan integrates all natural resource protection and land use planning activities into one plan that reflects community values. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | Arizona | Region 9 | Pima County Arizona | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Maryland Green Infrastructure Assessment | This tool identifies and helps in prioritizing areas within the state that have the greatest ecological importance through identifying large contiguous blocks of natural lands (hubs) and interconnected corridors. The tool also identifies areas that are at a high risk for loss due to urban and rural development. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Vulnerability | State | Maryland | Region 3 | Maryland Department of Natural Resources | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| North Carolina Conservation Planning Tool | This comprehensive planning tool is used by local and state governments and other organizations to inform decisions about conservation efforts in North Carolina. The tool provides maps that integrate information on biodiversity and wildlife habitat, open space and conservation lands, agricultural lands and forestry lands that can be used to explore the relative order of conservation significance for lands throughout the state. By sharing protection priorities, the tool can support consistent and cost-effective conservation investments statewide. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Habitat; Water Quality; Biological Condition | State | North Carolina | Region 4 | Natural Heritage Program | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment | The Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment applies landscape-scale geospatial analysis for identifying, prioritizing and linking natural lands in Virginia. Using land cover data, patches of natural land are mapped and scored according to size, connectivity, biological diversity and other characteristics that describe ecological integrity. High scoring ecological cores can be designated as high-priority targets for protection activities such as conservation land purchases or easements. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition | State | Virginia | Region 3 | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Maintaining Healthy Watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed | The 2014 Chesapeake Watershed Agreement contains a new Healthy Watersheds Goal: sustain state-identified healthy waters and watersheds recognized for their high quality and/or high ecological value. The outcome associated with this goal is 100 percent of state-identified currently healthy waters and watersheds remaining healthy. The Chesapeake Bay Program Maintain Healthy Watersheds Goal Implementation Team implements strategies to achieve this goal. The Team is developing methods to track watershed health and protection status. Tracking measures are reported on the Chesapeake Stat website. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | Regional | Regional | Region 2; Region 3 | Chesapeake Bay Program | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Iowa Gap Analysis Project | The goal of the Aquatic GAP Analysis Program is to keep common species common by identifying those species and communities that are not adequately represented in existing conservation areas or management plan. The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is sponsored by the Biological Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Iowa Gap Analysis Project (IA GAP) began in 1997 to identify areas in the state where vertebrate species richness lacked adequate protection under existing land ownership and management regimes. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | Habitat; Biological Condition | State | Iowa | Region 7 | Iowa State University | 2005 | 2001-2005 |
| Green Infrastructure Plan in Hampton Roads, Virginia | The Commission developed a green infrastructure plan to be used by local and regional planners to ensure that high-priority conservation lands are protected in a multipurpose network. This edition of the plan updates the original green infrastructure network and rates the vulnerability of high-priority conservation lands to the negative impacts of future growth. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | Landscape Condition; Vulnerability | Local | Virginia | Region 3 | Hampton Roads Planning District Commission | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Closing The Gaps in Florida's Wildlife Habitat Conservation System | Identifies a statewide system of landscape hubs and conservation corridors to conserve critical elements of Florida's native ecosystems and maintain connectivity among ecological systems and processes. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Habitat | State | Florida | Region 4 | Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Office of Environmental Services | 1994 | 1991-1995 |
| Riparian Area Management: Process for Assessing Proper Functioning Condition | This qualitative assessment tool was developed to assess proper functioning of riparian wetland areas based on observations of the physical condition of stream channels and adjacent riparian wetlands. It is quick assessment tool to determine stream stability and identify management practices to improve conditions. It can be used to identify riparian wetland systems for protection. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Habitat; Geomorphology | Regional | Regional | Region 8; Region 9; Region 10 | U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management | 1998 | 1996-2000 |
| Oregon's Watershed Assessment Manual | Oregon's Watershed Enhancement Board prepared a manual for conducting watershed assessments to better understand watershed health, determine how human activities are impacting water quality and habitat and evaluate the effects of land management and use changes over time. The assessment manual addresses hydrology, geomorphology, biological condition, chemical and physical water quality and land use. The assessment results in a watershed condition evaluation that prioritizes sites for protection or restoration actions and provides direction for additional monitoring and assessment activities. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Integrated Assessment | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Watershed Professionals Network | 1999 | 1996-2000 |
| Ohio Rapid Assessment Method | To facilitate comparison of the quality and function of wetlands across the state, Ohio developed a Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands. The ORAM sorts wetlands among three categories using a numeric scoring system. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Habitat | State | Ohio | Region 5 | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency | 2001 | 2001-2005 |
| Texas Instream Flow Program | Environmental flow analyses are being performed to develop recommended environmental flow regimes for each river basin and bay system in Texas. This website describes progress made for each system towards adoption of environmental flow standards. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | Hydrology | State | Texas | Region 6 | Texas Water Development Board | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Anne Arundel County Greenways Master Plan | In an effort to protect its ecological, aesthetic and cultural resources from fragmentation due to scattered development, Anne Arundel County assessed its existing greenways and areas that have the potential to become part of a greenways network to prioritize them for protection. Five criteria were used to identify 100 areas that form connections between greenway hubs that are critical to ensuring the ability of the greenways network to support crucial ecological functions. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | Landscape Condition | Local | Maryland | Region 3 | Anne Arundel County | 2002 | 2001-2005 |
| A Framework for Assessing and Reporting on Ecological Condition | This framework was developed by the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) as an organizational tool for reporting on information about the condition of ecosystems through an assessment of essential ecological attributes. The framework integrates scientific data and information necessary to answer questions like “How healthy is my watershed?” The Healthy Watersheds Program integrated assessment framework is similar to the SAB framework. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Integrated Assessment | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2002 | 2001-2005 |
| A Physical Habitat Index for Freshwater Wadeable Streams in Maryland | This report describes Maryland's effort to update a physical habitat index to improve the characterization of habitat quality in freshwater wadeable streams. Maryland first identified a set of reference and degraded streams, physical habitat metrics were then evaluated for their ability to discern between reference and degraded conditions. A subset of physical habitat metrics was combined into the physical habitat index. The resulting index was tested and adjusted to account for watershed size and other sources of bias. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Habitat | State | Maryland | Region 3 | Maryland Department of Natural Resources | 2003 | 2001-2005 |
| California Watershed Assessment Manual | The California Watershed Assessment Manual (CWAM) is an example of a statewide effort to develop a framework for conducting holistic watershed assessments and a set of tools to communicate the approach to local watershed groups, local and state agencies and others. The manual outlines data sources and methods for assessing multiple ecological attributes including landscape condition, aquatic habitat extent and condition, fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, water quality and biological condition. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Integrated Assessment | State | California | Region 9 | University of California Davis | 2005 | 2001-2005 |
| California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) | The California Rapid Assessment Method is a field assessment procedure designed to characterize wetland health and evaluate the effectiveness of wetland and riparian restoration projects. It can be applied to seven main types of wetlands (riverine and riparian, lacustrine, depressional, estuarine, wet meadows, vernal pools and playas). The maximum score possible represents the best condition that could be achieved for the type of wetland being assessed based on landscape context, hydrology, physical structure and biotic structure. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Guide | Habitat | State | California | Region 9 | San Francisco Estuary Institute | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process and Software Tools (including the New Jersey Assessment Tools) | The Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process (HIP) is a framework and set of software tools developed by the US Geological Survey to support: the calculation of biologically relevant streamflow statistics; stream classification; and the degree of departure from baseline conditions. The user manual for HIP software presents a customized application for New Jersey that also suggests environmental flow standards for streams. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Hydrology | National | National; New Jersey | National; Region 2 | U.S. Geological Survey | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| USGS Report on Lake Level Variability and Water Availability in the Great Lakes | This report provides recorded and estimated (prior to data collection) changes in water levels in the Great Lakes, relates those changes to impacts such as climate change and highlights major water availability implications for storage, coastal ecosystems and human activities. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 2; Region 5 | U.S. Geological Survey | 2007 | 2006-2010 |
| TNC Groundwater Methods Guide | The Nature Conservancy developed a Groundwater Methods Guide to assist resource managers in identifying where and when groundwater is critical to sustain species and habitat diversity and what activities threaten ground water in these critical times and places in the Pacific Northwest. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 10 | The Nature Conservancy | 2007 | 2006-2010 |
| Pennsylvania's Aquatic Community Classification (ACC) and Watershed Conservation Prioritization | The Aquatic Community Classification (ACC) project involved systematically identifying stream community and habitat types for freshwater mussels, macroinvertebrates and fish in Pennsylvania. Information from the project provides baseline data for preserving instream ecological flow conditions, and allows for the prioritization of high quality aquatic habitats for preservation. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report | Biological Condition; Integrated Assessment | State | Pennsylvania | Region 3 | Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program | 2019 | 2016-2020 |
| The Active River Area: A Conservation Framework for Protecting Rivers and Streams | The active river area framework offers a more holistic vision of a river than solely considering the river channel as it exists in one place at one particular point in time. The Active River Area represents the lands that contain both aquatic and riparian habitats and those that contain processes that interact with and contribute to a stream or river channel over time. To demonstrate the active river area modeling approach, the framework was applied to delineate the active river area throughout the Connecticut River Basin in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Landscape Condition; Habitat | National; Regional | National; Regional | National; Region 1 | The Nature Conservancy | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Interagency Fire Regime Condition Class Guidebook | The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions for conducting assessments with the FRCC Standard Landscape Worksheet Method, and provides an overview of the FRCC Mapping Tool GIS software used for the Standard Landscape Mapping Method. The information presented in this guidebook aids land managers in assessing the degree to which forest stand management has departed from the natural fire regime. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Landscape Condition | National | National | National | Multiple federal agencies | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| An Ecological Integrity Assessment of the New Jersey Pinelands | This project evaluated landscape, aquatic and wetland integrity in the New Jersey Pinelands region by examining the extent and arrangement of natural land cover across the landscape and within drainage areas of aquatic and wetland ecosystems. A moving-window geographic analysis was implemented to characterize ecological integrity in 10-meter units across the landscape. The results of the assessment are used in a land-use management program that protects areas considered ecologically critical. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Landscape Condition | State | New Jersey | Region 2 | State of New Jersey Pinelands Commission | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Vermont Reach Habitat Assessment Protocols | Vermont has integrated geomorphic and stream habitat assessments by linking physical processes with habitat indicators that are relevant to aquatic biological communities. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Habitat | State | Vermont | Region 1 | Vermont Agency of Natural Resources | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool | Michigan’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Process is used to regulate new or increased large-quantity water withdrawals for the purpose of preventing adverse impacts on streams. The Water Withdrawal Assessment Process is ecologically based and evaluates potential fish community responses to streamflow changes resulting from withdrawals. To facilitate decision making, an online screening tool was developed to estimate stream impacts. Proposed withdrawals with a high likelihood for adverse impacts require further site-specific investigation for permitting decisions. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Michigan | Region 5 | Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Regional-scale Habitat Suitability Model to Assess the Effects of Flow Reduction on Fish Assemblages in Michigan Streams | This model was developed as part of Michigan’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Process to predict changes in characteristic fish assemblages in 11 stream types throughout Michigan due to base flow changes resulting from water withdrawals. Model outputs were used to produce fish response curves for each stream type that guided discussions of adverse resource impacts and maximum allowable withdrawals. The models are also a key component of the online Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool to screen proposed withdrawals for risks to stream ecosystems. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Michigan | Region 5 | State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Texas Instream Flow Studies: Technical Overview | This report describes the technical approach to developing environmental flow standards for the river basin and bay systems of Texas. It provides a review of the Texas Instream Flow Program, background information on hydrologic variability throughout Texas and outlines methods for assessing and integrating information on the hydrologic, physical, biological and chemical conditions of a stream to determine environmental flow needs. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Texas | Region 6 | Texas Water Development Board | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (WARSSS) | Developed by Dr. David L. Rosgen, WARSSS is a three-phase technical framework of methods for assessing suspended and bedload sediment in rivers and streams. WARSSS can be used to analyze known or suspected sediment problems, develop sediment remediation and management components of watershed plans, develop sediment TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) and for other uses. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Geomorphology | National | National | National | Wildland Hydrology Consultants | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Implementation of a Stream/River Probabilistic Monitoring Network for the State of Oklahoma | This assessment describes the implementation of a probabilistic monitoring plan for Oklahoma’s streams and rivers. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board intends that this monitoring plan will fill data gaps that historically have not been covered in through the state’s Beneficial Use Monitoring Program and Small-Watershed Rotating Basin Monitoring Program. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Water Quality | State | Oklahoma | Region 6 | Oklahoma Water Resources Board | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator | The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator is a decision-support tool that approximates a watershed’s sustainable water yield to maintain desired uses, such as aquatic habitat. The tool also estimates daily streamflow for ungaged stream sites based on physical and climate basin characteristics. Because this tool was developed with considerations specific to the hydrology of Massachusetts, it can potentially be adapted for use in other New England states, but may not be applicable outside this geographic region. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | U.S. Geological Survey; Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| An Index of Cumulative Disturbance to River Fish Habitats of the Conterminous United States from Landscape Anthropogenic Activities Report | This assessment developed an index of cumulative anthropogenic disturbance to fish habitat in approximately 2.23 million river reaches. The index was derived from an analysis of the relationship between watershed anthropogenic disturbance variables and stream biological data. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Habitat; Integrated Assessment | National | National | National | Michigan State University | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) | The Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) is a framework for broadly assessing environmental flow needs in a region. ELOHA is especially useful for state-level assessments. The ELOHA website provides technical resources and case studies on the use of ELHOA, including A Practical Guide to Environmental Flows for Policy and Planning, which presents nine case studies of regional environmental flow management. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report; Guide | Hydrology | National | National | National | The Nature Conservancy | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Ecosystem Flow Recommendations for the Susquehanna River Basin | Developed by The Nature Conservancy, this report presents a set of recommended flows to protect the species, natural communities and key ecological processes within the various stream and river types in the Susquehanna River Basin. The flow recommendations address the range of flow conditions relevant to ecosystem protection, including extreme low and drought flows, seasonal (and monthly) flows and high flows. Along with magnitude of these key flows, recommendations address timing, frequency and duration of flow conditions. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 2; Region 3 | The Nature Conservancy | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Factors Influencing Riverine Fish Assemblages in Massachusetts | The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, conducted an investigation of fish assemblages in small- to medium-sized Massachusetts streams. The objective of this study was to determine relations between fish-assemblage characteristics and anthropogenic factors, including impervious cover and estimated flow alteration, relative to the effects of environmental factors, including physical-basin characteristics and land use. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology; Biological Condition | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | U.S. Geological Survey; Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| U.S. Forest Service Watershed Condition Framework | The Watershed Condition Framework establishes a new consistent, comparable and credible process for improving the health of watersheds on national forests and grasslands. This reconnaissance-level approach classified watershed condition based on 12 indicators that represented ecological, hydrologic and geomorphic functions and processes. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Integrated Assessment | National | National | National | U.S. Forest Service | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Assessing Ecosystem Values of Watersheds in Southern California: Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council | The Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council performed an assessment of the health of the Arroyo Seco watershed, a tributary to the Los Angeles River. The science-based systematic assessment resulted in a report card designed to reveal the health of the environment and communities in the Southern California region. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report; Guide | Integrated Assessment | State | California | Region 9 | Los Angeles Center for Urban Natural Resources Sustainability | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| The Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) | Developed by scientists at The Nature Conservancy, this software program allows users to input long-term daily streamflow records and calculates 67 different ecologically-relevant measures of the flow regime. Measures describe the magnitude, frequency, duration, timing and rate of change of high flows, base flows, large floods and extreme low flows. Annual values and long-term averages are reported and can be used to analyze the hydrologic effects of abrupt disturbances such as dam construction or more gradual trends corresponding to land and water use changes over time. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Hydrology | National | National | National | The Nature Conservancy | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Freshwater Biological Traits Database and Report | The Freshwater Biological Traits Database, developed by the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, contains traits data for 3,857 North American river and stream macroinvertebrate taxa, and includes location, habitat, life history, mobility, morphology and ecological trait data along with tolerance calculations for temperature and flow. Of the 14 sources of data, the main sources are the USGS traits database (Vieira et al. 2006) and the Poff et al. trait matrix (2006). These data can be used to evaluate biological responses to changes in temperature and hydrology. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Unified Hydrologic Model for Assessing Human and Climate Impacts on Streamflows at Multiple Geographic Scales | This project predicts natural baseline instream flows for all NHDPlus catchments in the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, altered flows under existing conditions and future flows based on urban growth and climate change projections. The result is a hydrologic data foundation that can be used to implement the ELOHA framework for determining environmental flow needs for rivers and streams throughout the South Atlantic region. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 4 | U.S. Geological Survey | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Tool for Estimating Streamflow for Pennsylvania Waterways | The Baseline Streamflow Estimator (BaSE) tool estimates baseline streamflow at a daily time scale for ungaged streams in Pennsylvania. The tool can be used to help evaluate flow regimes to promote stream ecological health when long-term streamflow monitoring data are not available. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Pennsylvania | Region 3 | U.S. Geological Survey; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Susquehanna River Basin Commission; The Nature Conservancy | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Application of the Richards-Baker Flashiness Index to Gaged Michigan Rivers and Streams | Stream flashiness is a stream flow response to storms. Streams that rise and fall quickly are considered flashier than those that maintain a steadier flow. This report describes an analysis of trends in stream flashiness for streams throughout Michigan. The information can be incorporated into stream stability assessments and watershed management plans. Watershed stakeholders should also find it useful as an aid to Best Management Practices (BMPs) selection and design. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology; Geomorphology | State | Michigan | Region 5 | Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| National Ecological Framework | The National Ecological Framework is a geospatial model of the connectivity of natural landscapes in the conterminous United States. It follows a hub/corridor approach: large patches of ecologically significant areas are delineated as ecological hubs; corridors are delineated as the least-disturbed pathways between hubs. Potential uses of the National Ecological Framework include highway and residential development planning to minimize disturbance, wetland mitigation to maximize landscape connectivity and designation of greenways to maintain existing connections. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| A National Streamflow Network Gap Analysis | This report describes an assessment of U.S. Geological Survey stream gage network to produce various streamflow statistics at locations that have stream gages in place (gaged) and that do not have stream gages (ungaged). The assessment identifies where gaps exist in the network of gaged locations, explains how accurately flow statistics can be calculated with a given length of record and notes whether the current network allows for estimation of these statistics at ungaged locations. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology | National | National | National | U.S. Geological Survey | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| Flow Recommendations for the Tributaries of the Great Lakes in New York and Pennsylvania | This report defines and quantifies streamflows needed to maintain intact aquatic ecosystems while providing sufficient water for human needs. The results of the study support decision making for management of water withdrawals and water use at a regional scale for tributaries of the Great Lakes in New York and Pennsylvania. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 2; Region 3 | The Nature Conservancy | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| Method to Support Total Maximum Daily Load Development Using Hydrologic Alteration as a Surrogate to Address Aquatic-Life Impairment in New Jersey Streams | The primary objective of this study was to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) approach to address aquatic life impairments associated with hydrologic alteration of New Jersey streams. It included an evaluation of streamflow conditions associated with alteration from dams, impervious surface cover, water withdrawals and groundwater pumping, and developed flow-ecology response relationships for sites with streamflow and ecological monitoring data. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | New Jersey | Region 2 | U.S. Geological Survey; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| California Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and applied the program's integrated assessment framework to evaluate relative watershed health and vulnerability throughout California. Indicators of watershed health and vulnerability were quantified using a combination of existing geospatial data and statistical models. The results of the assessment can be applied identify areas that are healthy but vulnerable to future degradation which could be prioritized for watershed protection efforts. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | California | Region 9 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| Developing Ecological Criteria for Sustainable Water Management in Minnesota | The goal of this project was to develop recommendations and indicators for ecological criteria for instream flow protection in Minnesota, with special attention to rivers and streams in Minnesota’s Great Lakes basin. Products were developed through a collaborative process with public agencies in Minnesota and other experts, building on partnerships between The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Geological Survey across the Great Lakes. The final report assesses available data, tools and approaches that can be used to establish ecologically-based instream flow protections in Minnesota. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | The Nature Conservancy | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| Wisconsin Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and applied the program's integrated assessment framework to evaluate relative watershed health and vulnerability throughout Wisconsin. Indicators of watershed health and vulnerability were quantified using a combination of existing geospatial data and statistical models. The results of the assessment can be applied identify areas that are healthy but vulnerable to future degradation which could be prioritized for watershed protection efforts. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | Wisconsin | Region 5 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| Strengthening the Resilience of the Taunton River Watershed | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and helped inform decisions by communities in the Taunton River Watershed on priority actions to take to increase their overall resiliency and reduce their vulnerability to the converging impacts of climate change and development. The project inventoried relevant existing data and developed a decision making framework. The framework applies existing geospatial data for the watershed to identify and map natural areas within the watershed that: (1) are most critical for maintaining resilience against threats from climate change and development pressures; and (2) provide the highest levels of ecosystem services to the local community. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | Local | Massachusetts | Region 1 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| Tennessee Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and applied the program's integrated assessment framework to evaluate relative watershed health and vulnerability throughout Tennessee. Indicators of watershed health and vulnerability were quantified using a combination of existing geospatial data and statistical models. The results of the assessment can be applied identify areas that are healthy but vulnerable to future degradation which could be prioritized for watershed protection efforts. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | Tennessee | Region 4 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2015 | 2011-2015 |
| Clinch and Powell River System Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health | This project was funded by the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program and applied the program's integrated assessment framework to evaluate relative watershed health in the Clinch and Powell River System. The Clinch and Powell River System is one of the last free-flowing sections in the Tennessee River basin and provides habitat for many aquatic species, particularly rare freshwater mussels. Indicators of watershed health were quantified using a combination of existing geospatial data and statistical models. The assessment also incorporated available field sampling data on mussel conditions. The results of the assessment can be applied identify healthy areas which could be prioritized for watershed protection efforts. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | Local | Tennessee | Region 4 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2015 | 2011-2015 |
| Montana Prairie Wetlands and Intermittent/Ephemeral Streams: Hydrologic Needs Assessment for Healthy Watersheds | This project was conducted to support assessments of hydrologic needs for healthy watersheds in Montana. It identifies hydrology-ecology relationships for prairie wetlands and intermittent/ephemeral streams, and demonstrates how the relationships can inform the development of precautionary limits of hydrologic alteration for these important ecosystems. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Montana | Region 8 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2015 | 2011-2015 |
| Overview of the Preliminary Healthy Watersheds Assessments Project | This preliminary assessment provides a nationwide, screening-level evaluation of watershed health to support watershed protection planning and prioritizing. The integrated assessment approach involves scoring HUC12 subwatersheds using indicators that characterize landscape condition, habitat condition, hydrologic condition, geomorphic condition, biological condition and water quality. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2017 | 2016-2020 |
| Puget Sound Characterization: The Water Resource Assessments (Water Flow and Water Quality) | This report describes a set of water and habitat assessments to compare areas across the Puget Sound Basin for restoration and protection. The assessments characterize water flow, water quality and wildlife habitats (in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine nearshore areas). The information is intended to allow local and regional governments, and others, to base decisions regarding land use on a systematic analytic framework that prioritizes specific geographic areas for protection and restoration. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | Local | Washington | Region 10 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Washington State Department of Ecology; Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife | 2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Combined Habitat Assessment Protocols (CHAP) Registry | The Combined Habitat Assessment Protocols (CHAP) is an assessment tool to measure habitat quality (including aquatic habitat) by evaluating biodiversity and/or structural condition. It has been applied in the Western U.S. with its origins in transportation project mitigation. It was developed as a collaborative effort with 11 federal and state agencies. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Habitat | Regional | Regional | Region 10 | The Habitat Institute | 2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Minnesota Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Assessment | As part of its integrated assessment of watershed health, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources mapped terrestrial habitat patches for representative wildlife species using land cover data and habitat models. A second model was then applied to map connectors between habitat patches throughout the state. Results were used to score terrestrial connectivity within Minnesota’s watersheds, with high scoring watersheds containing large patches of forest, grassland and wetland habitat and connections linking these habitat patches. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Landscape Condition | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Minnesota’s Watershed Health Assessment Framework | The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has embraced an integrated approach to watershed protection and restoration, recognizing that “the health of a watershed is enhanced when the five components - hydrology, connectivity, geomorphology, biology and water quality - have a functional relationship within that ecosystem.” Through the Watershed Health Assessment Framework, Minnesota has generated extensive information on the health of its watersheds. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Green Infrastructure Plan for Cecil County, Maryland | The Conservation Fund completed a Green Infrastructure Plan for Cecil County, Maryland, which includes four key components: 1) a green infrastructure network design; 2) water quality maintenance and environmental analysis; 3) ecosystem services assessment; and 4) implementation quilt analysis. Taken together, this set of products outlines a comprehensive approach to green infrastructure protection in Cecil County.' | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | Landscape Condition | Local | Maryland | Region 3 | Cecil County Maryland; Conservation Fund | 2019 | 2016-2020 |
| Minnesota National Lakes Assessment Project | As a product of the EPA’s 2007 National Lake Assessment, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency compiled a report summarizing the water chemistry of the state’s lakes. This assessment incorporates data collected from 50 surveyed lakes and 14 reference lakes to characterize the water clarity, ion chemistry, nutrient concentrations and trophic status of Minnesota’s lakes. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Water Quality | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency | 2020 | 2016-2020 |
| Rapid Assessment of the Functional Condition of Stream-Riparian Ecosystems in the American Southwest | Combinations of up to seven indicators in five different ecological categories (water quality, fluvial geomorphology, aquatic and fish habitat, vegetation composition and structure and terrestrial wildlife habitat) are used to generate numeric scores in this Rapid Stream Riparian Assessment. The scores rank the level of disturbance to natural processes in riparian systems and their habitat complexity. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Habitat | Regional | Regional | Region 9 | Wild Utah Project | 2021 | 2021-2025 |
| Virginia's Watershed Integrity Model | The Virginia Watershed Integrity Model was developed to show the relative value of land as it contributes to watershed or water quality integrity. It combines datasets describing landscape condition, biological condition, riparian/wetland habitat extent, topography and source water protection zones into an overall watershed integrity score for lands throughout the state. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Landscape Condition; Integrated Assessment | State | Virginia | Region 3 | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| BioMap2: Conserving the Biodiversity of Massachusetts in a Changing World | BioMap2 is designed to guide strategic biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts. It identifies core forest, wetland and aquatic habitats that are critical for protecting rare, threatened and endangered species. In addition, it identifies critical natural landscapes that provide habitat for wide-ranging native species. The assessment is based on the principles of landscape ecology and ecosystem resilience, and makes use of advanced geospatial analysis methods to evaluate ecological integrity across the landscape. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Habitat | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | The Nature Conservancy; MassWildlife | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment Program | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation places a strong emphasis on fluvial geomorphology in its approach to protecting and restoring Vermont’s streams and rivers. The geomorphic assessment program collects and maintains geomorphic data for watershed planning and detailed characterization of riparian and instream habitat, stream-related erosion and flood hazards. It has produced a number of resources to explain principles of fluvial geomorphology, its relevance to aquatic ecosystem management and protocols for geomorphic assessments. | Watershed Assessment | Initiative; Guide | Geomorphology | State | Vermont | Region 1 | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) | Since the early 1990s, the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) program has systematically collected chemical, biological and physical water quality data from study sites across the nation. NAWQA provides an understanding of: water-quality conditions across the U.S. and how those conditions vary geographically; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Water Quality | National | National | National | U.S. Geological Survey | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Vermont Lake Score Card | Vermont’s Lake Score Card allows water resource managers and citizens to more easily assess lake condition by providing monitoring data on Google Earth map. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Water Quality | State | Vermont | Region 1 | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program | The program trains citizen volunteers to collect water quality samples, assess invasive species coverage in lakes and determine overall watershed health. | Watershed Assessment | Initiative | Water Quality | State | Maine | Region 1 | Lake Stewards of Maine | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| National Lakes Assessment (NLA) | Every five years, the EPA, in collaboration with states and Tribes, surveys the condition of lakes, ponds and reservoirs across the nation. The probability-based sampling scheme is intended to collect data that provide a statistically valid representation of lake condition on a regional and national level. Water quality data collected include concentrations of nutrients, algal toxins, pathogens and fish tissue contaminants. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Water Quality; Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) | The EPA’s NRSA program uses a random sampling design to provide regional and national estimates of the condition of rivers and streams. Physical and chemical water quality, as well as biological integrity are assessed over time to better understand the condition of the nation’s waters. Results of the 2008-09 assessment are summarized in the 2008-2009 National Rivers and Streams Assessment Draft Report and sampling for the 2013-14 assessment is underway. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Water Quality; Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Ohio Statewide Biological and Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment | The state collects water quality data and examines and counts fish and macroinvertebrates in streams and rivers throughout the state as part of its monitoring program. | Watershed Assessment | Initiative; Technical Report | Water Quality; Biological Condition | State | Ohio | Region 5 | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| National Aquatic Resource Surveys | The EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys are probability-based surveys of the Nation’s rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters reporting on the extent of waters that support healthy ecosystems, recreation and fish consumption. The surveys provide a national picture of aquatic ecosystem health, as well as provide states with the means to evaluate the relationships between stressors, watershed characteristics and the condition of waters to prioritize additional monitoring and management needs. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Water Quality; Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) | The EPA and state, Tribal and federal partners complete a national survey on the condition of the Nation's wetlands every five years. The survey uses a probability-based sampling design to provide statistically-valid estimates of regional and national conditions. The project assesses wetland ecological integrity and ranks the stressors most commonly associated with poor conditions. Data include measures of vegetation, soils, hydrology and algae. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Water Quality; Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA's Restoration and Protection Screening (RPS) Tool | The RPS website and Tool were developed by the EPA to support strategic planning of priority waters and watersheds. The RPS Tool is flexible and customizable, users choose subwatersheds to screen and select ecological, stressor, and social indicators that are most relevant to their interests and screening objectives. Screening results are viewable as data tables, charts and maps. The RPS Tool includes data from the EPA Healthy Watersheds Program's Preliminary Healthy Watersheds Assessment (PHWA) and several indicators relevant to the vulnerability of healthy watersheds to future degradation. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Integrated Assessment; Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA’s Bioassessment and Biocriteria Program | The EPA's Bioassessment and Biocriteria Program lays out the key objectives for developing and implementing bioassessments and biocriteria for use in state and tribal water quality standards programs. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| NatureServe Network Natural Heritage Program Biodiversity Assessments | Databases compiling species and community location records from the scientific literature, collections and field inventories are maintained through the state natural heritage programs. State programs use their databases to assess the relative rarity of species and communities as well. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Biological Condition | National | National | National | NatureServe | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| USGS Aquatic GAP Analysis Program | The goal of the Aquatic GAP Analysis Program is to keep common species common by identifying those species and communities that are not adequately represented in existing conservation areas or management plans. The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is sponsored by the Biological Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This website contains information on the concepts and methodology and provides links to state-specific Aquatic GAP projects. The GAP analysis program has been applied in Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan and Wisconsin. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Habitat; Biological Condition | National | National | National | U.S. Geological Survey | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| New York State Natural Heritage Program | The Department of Environmental Conservation Natural Heritage Program's mission is to "facilitate conservation of New York's biodiversity by providing comprehensive information and scientific expertise on rare species and natural ecosystems to resource managers and other conservation partners." It forms partnerships with various agencies to survey the state's biodiversity and exchange information among decision-makers. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report; Guide | Habitat; Biological Condition | State | New York | Region 2 | New York Natural Heritage Program | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Oregon Biodiversity Information Center | Exemplifying the common functions of the state natural heritage programs, the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center supports programs focusing on rare species, invasive species and natural areas in the state. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Habitat; Biological Condition | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Oregon State University Institute for Natural Resources | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Connecticut's Least Disturbed Watersheds Identification | Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection used GIS to select 30 least disturbed watersheds in the state based on a variety of characteristics, including land use (e.g., impervious cover, natural land cover), aquatic connectivity and habitat fragmentation and impoundments and withdrawals. The assessment resulted in identification of the best streams for preservation, "streams of hope" for active management and urban streams for mitigation. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | Connecticut | Region 1 | Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Virginia Healthy Waters Program | Virginia's Healthy Waters program is an effort to maintain ecological balance and broaden conservation efforts to include critical healthy natural resources before they are compromised. This approach encompasses protecting everything from aquatic insect larvae and bugs hidden in gravelly stream bottoms, to forested buffers alongside streams, to natural stream flow, to the water we drink. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | State | Virginia | Region 3 | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| National Fish Habitat Partnership | The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) is comprised of anglers, conservation groups, scientists, governments and industry leaders whose mission is to apply a partnership-based approach to implement conservation projects to protect and improve fish habitat. Its efforts are guided by the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a roadmap for voluntary, non-regulatory, science-based action to protect and enhance America’s aquatic systems. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report | N/A | National | National | National | National Fish Habitat Partnership | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership | The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) coordinates among various programs and organizations to create a cross-boundary commitment to protecting aquatic resources in the southeastern United States and is a partnership of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | Regional | Regional | Region 3; Region 4; Region 6; Region 7 | Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Setting Freshwater Conservation Priorities | The Nature Conservancy works with others to develop and implement approaches and tools to identify regional and basin-wide freshwater conservation priorities. These and similar approaches and tools have been applied across parts of five continents including the vast majority of the United States. The report on conservation priorities for freshwater biodiversity in the Upper Mississippi River Basin illustrates how the Nature Conservancy’s approach selects conservation targets and identifies data gaps (https://www.conservationgateway.org/Documents/uppermsriverbasin.pdf). | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | National | National | National | The Nature Conservancy | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Wyoming Wetlands Conservation Strategy | The Wyoming Joint Ventures Steering Committee developed a statewide wetlands conservation strategy to unite existing conservation organizations under common goals with respect to managing wetlands and minimizing the impact of threats to wetland integrity and function. This strategy is also closely linked to the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Wyoming | Region 8 | Wyoming Joint Ventures Steering Committee | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Conservation in America: State Government Incentives for Habitat Conservation | The Defenders of Wildlife produced this report to document state-level incentive programs for aquatic and terrestrial habitat conservation. Programs relevant to aquatic ecosystem protection take the form of cost-shares, tax benefits, easement purchases and land acquisitions to protect wetlands, riparian forests and other lands from degradation. Program summaries are provided for each state and contact information is made available. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | National | National | National | Defenders of Wildlife | 2002 | 2001-2005 |
| Stewardship Incentives: Conservation Strategies for Oregon's Working Landscape | As part of the Oregon Biodiversity Project, the Stewardship Incentives report evaluates options for improving stewardship to protect biodiversity, habitats and the ecological services provided by natural landscapes. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Defenders of Wildlife | 2001 | 2001-2005 |
| Habitat Protection for the Las Vegas Wash | Nevada’s Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee was developed to restore and enhance riparian areas and the ecological resources within the Las Vegas Wash. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | Nevada | Region 9 | Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Eco-Logical | The U.S. Department of Transportation’s EcoLogical program is an ecosystem approach to developing infrastructure projects. Program goals include protection of larger scale, multi-resource ecosystems and reduced habitat fragmentation. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Department of Transportation | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| Trust for Public Land's GreenPrint Program | The Trust for Public Land (TPL) helps regions and communities analyze and map conservation opportunities based on local priorities—a process TPL refers to as "greenprinting." Through this community-based process, TPL helps define priorities for new parks and land conservation, identify lands to be protected and plan networks of conserved land that meet public need. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative | N/A | National | National | National | Trust for Public Land | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Green Infrastructure Center | The Green Infrastructure Center assists communities in developing strategies for protecting and conserving their ecological and cultural assets through environmentally-sensitive decisions, lifestyles and planning. Green infrastructure includes forests, agricultural soils, parks and open spaces, rivers, wetlands, bays and other habitats. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | National | National | National | Green Infrastructure Center | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS) | CAPS is a computer software program designed to assess the ecological integrity and biodiversity value of every location in Massachusetts based on natural community-specific models, in order to help prioritize lands for conservation action based on their assessed ecological value. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| Losing Ground | Mass Audubon's Losing Ground series has analyzed land use changes and their impact on aquatic and terrestrial resources since 1991. A major focus is incorporating data and tools at the local level for enhancing resiliency to climate change. This report presents an analysis of climate change resilience throughout Massachusetts that combines measures of landscape complexity and connectedness. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | Mass Audubon | 2020 | 2016-2020 |
| Garden State Greenways | The New Jersey Conservation Foundation developed Garden State Greenways in 2001 with Rutgers University and the Green Acres Program. Garden State Greenways is a map identifying the important natural resources - grasslands, forests, dunes, agricultural soils, wetlands - remaining in New Jersey. Greenways include hubs, or concentrations of land, and linear corridors connecting these hubs. Linking hubs of nature protects the ecological integrity of these natural areas. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Guide | N/A | State | New Jersey | Region 2 | New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| New England Greenway Vision Plan | The New England Greenway Vision Plan was developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts as a regional greenway system that preserves and links ecologically critical habitats, recreation trails and historically significant areas throughout New England. The plan identifies over 19,000 miles of greenways and trails necessary to connect public open spaces and 8 million acres of environmentally sensitive areas for protection. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | N/A | Regional | Regional | Region 1 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | 2007 | 2006-2010 |
| Maryland GreenPrint | GreenPrint shows where Targeted Ecological Areas occur and how the many programs within the state’s government work together to protect the most ecologically valuable areas. This is an effort to keep portions of Maryland as ecologically sound as possible to ensure healthy populations of plants and animals, and to conserve lands before they are consumed by sprawling development. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | N/A | State | Maryland | Region 3 | Maryland Department of Natural Resources | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Green Infrastructure Planning in Virginia | The Green Infrastructure Center conducted ten field tests of green infrastructure planning across the state in a diverse set of ecoregions and different development patterns (urban, suburban and rural) to create a framework for green infrastructure mapping and assessment that can be used statewide and across the region. The Center’s website provides a guide for community green infrastructure planning and a summary of current demonstration projects. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report; Guide | N/A | State | Virginia | Region 3 | Green Infrastructure Center | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission Environmental Corridors | The Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission is the official area-wide planning agency for northeastern Wisconsin. The agency incorporates environmental corridor planning as a way to promote a systematic and strategic approach to land development and land conservation, and encourage practices that are good for both nature and people. Environmental corridor planning provides a framework to guide land development and land conservation decisions that accommodate population growth and protect community and natural resources assets. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Technical Report; Guide | N/A | Local | Wisconsin | Region 5 | Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Beaver Creek Watershed Green Infrastructure Plan | The plan uses a green infrastructure approach to: help protect and restore naturally functioning ecosystems; propose solutions that can improve water quality and mitigate flooding; enhance recreation opportunities; and provide a framework for future development. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | Landscape Condition | Local | Tennessee | Region 4 | University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| Central Texas Greenprint for Growth: A Regional Action Plan for Conservation and Economic Opportunity | In a partnership with the Capital Area Council of Governments and the Trust for Public Land, Envision Central Texas integrated data layers representing multiple conservation priorities in a GIS to produce a plan for strategic growth in central Texas. The plan identifies parcels that are critical to establishing networks of recreational trails and pathways for migratory fauna to be prioritized for conservation as community development continues in the surrounding area. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | Local | Texas | Region 6 | Trust for Public Land | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Washington’s Critical Areas Growth Management Act | Per the state’s Growth Management Act, all cities and counties in Washington must develop regulations that protect the functions and values of critical areas, including wetlands, frequently flooded areas, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, areas that are critical to the recharge of aquifers that are sources of potable water and geologically hazardous areas. The state has compiled a number of documents to guide city and county officials in using the best available science to identify the functions and values of critical areas. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Guide | N/A | State | Washington | Region 10 | Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Lower Meramec River Source Water Protection Project | To demonstrate how forest conservation and management can protect drinking water quality, the Trust for Public Land and the U.S. Forest Service partnered with the Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments and the Meramec River Tributary Alliance to prioritize areas throughout the watershed where restoration, conservation and wastewater best management practices would provide the greatest water quality benefits. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | State | Missouri | Region 7 | U.S. Forest Service; The Trust for Public Land; Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region; East-West Gateway Council of Governments | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| A Primer on Using Biological Assessment to Support Water Quality Management | This document serves as a primer on the role of biological assessments in a variety of water quality management program applications, including reporting on the condition of the aquatic biota, establishing biological criteria and assessing the effectiveness of Total Maximum Daily Load determinations and pollutant source controls. This document provides a brief discussion of technical tools and approaches for developing strong biological assessment programs and presents examples of successful application of those tools. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Funding Land Conservation Projects with the Clean Water State Revolving Fund | The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) can provide assistance for projects that result in the protection or restoration of surface water. This includes land conservation and restoration. Eligible projects include purchase of land, leasing, fee-simple purchase and easement. This fact sheet demonstrates how the CWSRF provides assistance to eligible recipients for projects promoting land conservation and restoration and highlights successful projects in California, Georgia and Ohio. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide; Funding | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Protecting Source Water with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides | This fact sheet describes Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) set-aside eligibilities related to source water protection loans. States may offer loans to community water systems to finance source water protection activities through the Local Assistance and Other State Programs set-aside. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide; Funding | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2020 | 2016-2020 |
| Advancing Watershed Protection Through Land Conservation: Eligibilities & Approaches in the Clean Water Act Section 319 Program | This fact sheet, published in 2024, provides background information, resources and 'Getting Started Tips' for Clean Water Act Section 319 Program staff who aim to incorporate land protection strategies in their program activities. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide; Funding | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Wetlands and Stream Mitigation: A Handbook for Land Trusts | This handbook provides the land trust community with a framework to advance and professionalize the long-term stewardship of compensatory mitigation sites. This handbook also recognizes a range of roles that land trusts can play in compensatory mitigation beyond stewardship, including serving as a mitigation provider, guiding site selection, carrying out compensation on their own lands and participating in restoration projects. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| EPA's Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox | This webpage contains a wealth of information and resources for watershed outreach campaigns including: guides; ready-made logos, slogans and mascots; surveys and evaluations; and TV, radio and print ads. Permission for use has been granted by most of the content developers. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2017 | 2016-2020 |
| Getting in Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns | This EPA guide presents key principles, techniques and information for effective watershed outreach. Watershed managers are encouraged to read this guide, as it will help you understand the audiences in your watershed, create messages that resonate with them, find appropriate ways to communicate your message and prompt changes in behavior to reduce negative impacts to our natural ecosystems. The guide also provides the tools needed to develop and implement an effective public outreach campaign. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Watershed Academy | Through the Watershed Academy, the EPA offers over 50 self-paced training modules that represent a basic and broad introduction to the watershed management field. Modules take half an hour to 2 hours to complete. Courses include Top Ten Watershed Lessons Learned, Introduction to the Clean Water Act and Wetland Functions. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Community Culture and the Environment: A Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place | This guide provides a process and set of tools for defining and understanding the social and cultural aspects of community-based environmental protection. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2002 | 2001-2005 |
| Getting Your Feet Wet With Social Marketing: A Social Marketing Guide for Watershed Programs | This social marketing guide, available from the State of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, is specifically aimed at training watershed managers to use the principles of social marketing to promote behavior change that will improve watershed health and water quality. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| Ohio Watershed Network | The Ohio Watershed Network was formed to provide communities and natural resource managers with the information they need to effectively protect water resources and their ecosystem services. The Network offers courses, events and forums, and provides a network for watershed groups. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | State | Ohio | Region 5 | Ohio State University Extension | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Project NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) | Connecticut's Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program is dedicated to protecting natural resources by educating landowners and municipal officials about nonpoint source pollution and watershed protection. It is part of a national network of educational programs that join together share information, educational methods and technical tools across state and agency lines. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Guide | N/A | National; State | National; Connecticut | National; Region 1 | University Of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| River Network | The River Network provides a variety of resources available to watershed managers for involving people in aquatic resource management. Guidebooks, trainings and networking opportunities are some of the resources available. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Guide | N/A | National | National | National | River Network | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments | Based on The Environmental Law Institute’s detailed examination of more than 50 enacted wetland buffer ordinances around the nation and nine model ordinances, as well as several hundred scientific studies and analyses of buffer performance, the Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments identifies both the state-of-the-art and the range of current practice in protection of wetland buffers by local governments. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | Environmental Law Institute | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems: A Guide for Puget Sound Planners to Understand Watershed Processes | This document provides guidance for Puget Sound planners, resource managers and others on how to better protect aquatic ecosystems such as lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries by including information about watershed processes in resource management plans and regulatory actions. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | Local | Washington | Region 10 | Washington State Department of Ecology | 2005 | 2001-2005 |
| Smart Growth for Clean Water: Helping Communities Address the Water Quality Impacts of Sprawl | This Smart Growth for Clean Water report identifies five smart growth approaches that can improve water quality: land conservation, waterfront brownfields revitalization, urban and community forestry, low impact development and watershed management. It profiles several local partnerships across the nation that have successfully used these approaches to realize multiple environmental and economic benefits. The report also identifies specific barriers and solutions to the effective implementation of smart growth for clean water programs. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | Trust For Public Land; National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals | 2003 | 2001-2005 |
| Bear Creek Watershed Protection Overlay District | The Bear Creek Watershed Protection Overlay District was established through local regulation to preserve and enhance the integrity of Michigan’s Bear Creek Watershed. Special provisions apply to the district which are designed to: prevent soil erosion along creek banks; prevent sedimentation from entering the creeks; preserve and enhance vegetation along the creeks; and ensure adequate setbacks for buildings, structures and septic systems. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | Local | Michigan | Region 5 | Township of Cannon, Michigan | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| Maine Biological Monitoring Program | As part of its water quality standards, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection analyzed its aquatic biomonitoring data using a probability-based statistical model to assign each of the state’s water bodies to one of three aquatic life use classes. As new biomonitoring data are collected, the state confirms that each water body is attaining its aquatic life use designation and incorporates any water bodies that are not attaining their aquatic life use designations in its 303(d) list of impaired water bodies. | Watershed Assessment | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report; Guide | Biological Condition | State | Maine | Region 1 | Maine Department of Environmental Protection | 2019 | 2016-2020 |
| Pennsylvania Coldwater Heritage Partnership | The Pennsylvania program was developed to coordinate efforts and provide technical assistance to protect the state’s cold water streams and their fisheries. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report; Funding | N/A | State | Pennsylvania | Region 3 | Coldwater Heritage Partnership | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| The Importance of Biocriteria in North Carolina's Basinwide Management Strategy | The North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has been using bioassessment techniques to evaluate water quality for more than 15 years. Biological data are valuable for classifying Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) and High Quality Waters (HQW). In order to be classified as ORW or HQW, the stream must receive a biological rating of "Excellent." State standards allow waters designated as ORW or HQW to be protected through such means as advanced treatment requirements, restriction of new discharges, land use regulations and storm water controls. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | North Carolina | Region 4 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Colorado Instream Flow Program | In Colorado’s semi-arid environment, water is scarce with many competing demands placed on it by an ever-increasing population. The Colorado Water Conservation Board is responsible for the appropriation, acquisition, protection and monitoring of instream flow and natural lake level water rights to preserve and improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools | N/A | State | Colorado | Region 8 | Colorado Water Conservation Board | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program (CBWTP) | The CBWTP seeks creative solutions to maintaining instream flows at ecologically acceptable levels while providing water users with sufficient supplies. Methods used include: (1) water acquisitions; (2) boosting efficiency; (3) conserving habitat; (4) rethinking the source; (5) rotational pools; and (6) water banking. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | Washington; Oregon | Region 10 | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Ecological Low Flow Protection Process for Ohio Streams and Rivers of the Lake Erie Basin | This website describes the process used in Ohio to determine minimum acceptable flow levels for the state’s streams and rivers. The state identified sensitive fish species richness as the ideal metric for determining whether or not a stream’s flow level is sufficient. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | State | Ohio | Region 5 | The Nature Conservancy | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| International Instream Flow Program Initiative | This book provides a status report of State and Provincial Instream Flow programs in the United States and Canada. It identifies trends and opportunities to help state and provincial fish and wildlife management agencies participate in flow management activities. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | National | National | National | Instream Flow Council | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Massachusetts Sustainable Water Management Initiative | In 2012, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs released the Sustainable Water Management Initiative (SWMI) Framework. The framework guides permitting of water withdrawals to support aquatic ecosystems while meeting human needs for economic growth. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools; Technical Report | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Massachusetts Water Policy | The Massachusetts Water Policy, released in October 2004, seeks to advance the following environmental principles: keep water local and seek to have municipalities live within their water budgets by addressing issues from a watershed perspective; protect clean water and restore impaired waters; protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat; and promote development strategies consistent with sustainable water resource management. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs | 2004 | 2001-2005 |
| Greenprint for Deschutes County, Oregon | In response to rapid population growth in Deschutes County, Oregon, the Trust for Public Land, in partnership with Deschutes Land Trust and local government departments created a GreenPrint to prioritize lands for conservation and recreation. The GreenPrint includes maps that highlight key areas for important scenic views, wildlife habitat and trail connections in order to guide future conservation activities (e.g., purchase of land and easements or improved development planning). | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools; Technical Report | N/A | Local | Oregon | Region 10 | Trust for Public Land | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Practical Guide to Environmental Flows for Policy and Planning | Nine case studies evaluating successful environmental flow policies are presented in this document. Demonstrating application of the ELOHA framework, the case studies integrate discussion of water availability, river type classification, flow-ecology relationships and condition goals. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | National | National | National | The Nature Conservancy | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Southern Instream Flow Network | The Southern Instream Flow Network was created by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership to facilitate development of protective instream flow policies among partners based in 15 southeastern US states. This is achieved by providing science-based resources, including developing regional flow-ecology relationships, hydrologic classification of streams and rivers, compilation of baseline information on hydrologic and ecologic conditions, assessment of flow alteration and implementation of flow conservation actions in high priority areas. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | Regional | Regional | Region 3; Region 4; Region 6; Region 7 | Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Stream Flow: The Next Two Decades Balancing Human Use and Ecological Health | This report describes Connecticut’s approach to developing and implementing stream flow standards for streams and rivers throughout the state. Connecticut’s flow standards are intended to balance stream flow needs to support human uses while maintaining the ecological health of flowing waters. In 2011, the Connecticut legislative regulations review committee approved statewide flow standards and regulations that followed the framework outlined in this report. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Connecticut | Region 1 | Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Sustainable Watershed Management: Priorities for Action | This Massachusetts action plan identifies threats to ecosystem integrity, such as droughts, increased stormwater runoff and habitat fragmentation, and presents opportunities to protect those ecosystem services. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | Mass Audubon | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Washington Instream Flow Program | Washington Department of Ecology is required by state law to retain adequate amounts of water in streams to protect and preserve instream resources and uses (such as fish, wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, water quality and navigation). One of the best water management tools for protecting stream flows is to set flow levels in regulation. Watershed management groups around the state are examining local water resources and working with Ecology to set or revise instream flows in their watersheds. The intent is to set instream flows throughout the state. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Data and Tools | N/A | State | Washington | Region 10 | Washington State Department of Ecology | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Water Resource Management and Planning: A Guide for Communities | This guidance from Massachusetts provides information on planning to address the full spectrum of issues that arise in water resource management including drinking water and stormwater issues. The Guide stresses the need to consider solutions that keep water local and minimize the impact on the overall water budget, the inflow and outflow of water to the community. The Guide also promotes sustainable water resource management strategies. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Headwaters: A Collaborative Conservation Plan for the Town of Sanford | The headwaters of five rivers in southern Maine that drain into two National Estuarine Research Reserves and a National Wildlife Refuge fall within the boundaries of the Town of Sanford. Workshops held at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve used Community Viz and Keypad Polling to empower members of the community to help determine water resource protection priorities for the town’s 2009 conservation plan. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | Local | Maine | Region 1 | Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve; Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Massachusetts River & Stream Continuity Project | Under this project, the University of Massachusetts developed the “Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards” to improve aquatic connectivity and fish passage in the state's rivers and streams. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | State | Massachusetts | Region 1 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Engaging Oregonians in Conservation: Strategy Outreach, Conservation Education and Fish and Wildlife-Based Tourism | This report from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife details objectives and opportunities in conservation education, fish and wildlife-based tourism and human dimensions research in Oregon. These approaches help to link people with their natural communities. | Watershed Protection | Guide | N/A | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife | 2006 | 2006-2010 |
| New Jersey Antidegradation Designations | New Jersey surface water quality standards establish antidegradation policies for all surface waters of the state. Certain waters receive Category One antidegradation designations. Category One waters are protected from the impacts of development through regulations that require maintenance of a 300-foot vegetated buffer around the stream channel. Category One designations are in part based on a stream’s ecological significance and the use of vegetated buffers as a protection strategy that helps maintain key riparian and instream processes that contribute to ecological health. | Watershed Protection | Initiative | N/A | State | New Jersey | Region 2 | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | 2017 | 2016-2020 |
| Socioeconomic Value of the Delaware River Basin in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania | An analysis of economic activity from recreation, water quality, water supply, hunting/fishing, ecotourism, forest, agriculture, open space and other benefits provided by the Delaware River Basin. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | Regional | Regional | Region 2; Region 3 | University of Delaware | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Middle Potomac River Watershed Assessment: Defining Environmentally Sustainable Flows | The Middle Potomac River Watershed Assessment was a collaborative effort to assess the relationship between streamflow alteration and ecological response in the Middle Potomac River Watershed. The assessment included several components: environmental flow needs assessments for large rivers, small rivers, and streams; projection of future water uses; a stakeholder engagement process; and initial scoping of a strategic comprehensive plan for watershed management. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Hydrology | Regional | Regional | Region 3 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; The Nature Conservancy; Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| Resource Lands Assessment: Chesapeake Bay Ecological Network Model | The Ecological Network Model aims to identify the most important remaining habitats in the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and D.C. portions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The model applies a hubs and corridors approach that is based on principles of landscape ecology and conservation biology which emphasize size and connectivity as essential components of high integrity habitat. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Habitat | Regional | Regional | Region 3 | Chesapeake Bay Program | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania | This study uses cutting-edge research to quantify the economic value of southeast Pennsylvania's 200,000 acres of parks, preserved farms and natural areas in terms of property value, ecosystem services, direct use and health benefits and economic activity. The study also includes qualitative place-based case studies that tell stories about what certain protected open spaces mean to people and communities. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | State | Pennsylvania | Region 3 | Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Virginia Development Vulnerability Model | The Vulnerability Model is a tool for predicting future growth and land use change with the purpose of identifying priority areas for protection and conservation. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Data and Tools; Technical Report | Vulnerability | State | Virginia | Region 3 | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Ecological Responses to Flow Alteration in the South Atlantic Region: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis | This project reviewed and documented sources of information on relationships between streamflow and ecology in the South Atlantic region, examined general patterns in ecological responses to both natural flow variation and anthropogenic flow alteration and analyzed key predictors of the direction and magnitude of ecological responses to flow changes. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | Regional | Regional | Region 4 | Virginia Tech University | 2011 | 2011-2015 |
| Strategic Conservation Mapping: North Florida Land Trust | This case study presented by the Land Trust Alliance highlights how the North Florida Land Trust addresses conservation concerns through strategic planning, modeling and mapping. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Technical Report | N/A | State | Florida | Region 4 | Land Trust Alliance | 2021 | 2021-2025 |
| Comprehensive Study on Economic Valuation, Economic Impact Assessment, and State Conservation Funding of Green Infrastructure Assets in Michigan | This report consists of three studies related to natural resource valuation, natural resource impact analysis and natural resource conservation funding in Michigan. They are part of a broader framework aimed at understanding the relationship between green infrastructure assets and economic impacts. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Michigan | Region 5 | Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Minnesota River Ecology Unit | The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources River Ecology Unit gathers and provides information on streams and rivers to guide protection and restoration efforts. The Stream Habitat Program works to ensure that adequate amounts of water are flowing throughout the year in the state's streams and rivers to protect fish and wildlife. The program also promotes stream connectivity through dam removals, installation of fish passages and design of road-stream crossings to minimize impacts. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | Habitat; Hydrology; Biological Condition | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Twin Cities Regionally Significant Ecological Areas | This landscape assessment of the Twin Cities metro area identified ecologically significant terrestrial and wetland areas. Significant areas were delineated based on patch size; patch shape; adjacent land cover/use; connectivity to other natural areas; and presence of native plant communities. These areas collectively provide wildlife habitat, maintain biological diversity, maintain connectivity, and contribute to groundwater recharge and improved water quality. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition | State | Minnesota | Region 5 | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | 2008 | 2006-2010 |
| Kansas Heritage Streams: Identification and Protection of Healthy Watersheds (2013) | This report outlines the approach used by Kansas state agencies to characterize the landscape features, biological, surface water chemistry and streamflow conditions for six heritage streams. It includes the results of the assessment, and a discussion of measures to protect and maintain the physical, chemical and biological condition of these exceptional waters. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection | Technical Report | Integrated Assessment | State | Kansas | Region 7 | Kansas Department of Health and Environment | 2013 | 2011-2015 |
| Kansas Reference Streams | Kansas' Department of Health and Environment conducted an assessment to identify reference or high quality streams throughout the state to assist in establishing baseline ecological conditions, developing water quality criteria and identifying impaired waterbodies. Statistical methods were used to create landscape disturbance indices that relate to stream taxonomic richness and can be used to predict the locations of high quality streams throughout the state. | Watershed Assessment | Technical Report | Landscape Condition; Biological Condition | State | Kansas | Region 7 | Kansas Department of Health and Environment | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Missouri Aquatic Gap Project | The goal of the Aquatic GAP Analysis Program is to keep common species common by identifying those species and communities that are not adequately represented in existing conservation areas or management plan. The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is sponsored by the Biological Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The goal of the Missouri Aquatic GAP Project was to identify riverine ecosystems, habitats and species not adequately represented within existing conservation lands. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Technical Report | Landscape Condition; Habitat; Biological Condition | State | Missouri | Region 7 | Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| Michigan Natural Rivers Program | Established in 1970, Michigan’s Natural Rivers Program was created to preserve, protect and enhance the state's river systems by allowing property owners their right to reasonable development, while protecting Michigan's unique river resources. The program now includes stretches of sixteen rivers. Landowners possessing property along these rivers are allowed reasonable development rights only to the extent that these rights do not infringe upon the ability of current and future generations to enjoy the rivers’ resources. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | Michigan | Region 5 | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Vermont Guide to River Corridor Easements | The Guide to River Corridor Easements includes deeded land use and channel management restrictions for protecting certain reaches of river. The transfer of channel management rights is a notable aspect of this easement, offering a unique tool for restoring watersheds and reducing hazards by protecting natural river processes at key locations. | Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Guide | N/A | State | Vermont | Region 1 | Vermont Agency of Natural Resources | 2010 | 2006-2010 |
| Vermont River Corridor Planning, Protection and Restoration | The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ River Management Program promotes the planning, designing and protecting of river corridors that will accommodate stream meander and floodplain processes as the most economically and environmentally sustainable river management alternative. The River Management Program envisions a time when the protection and wise management of river corridors will diminish the need for river restoration projects. | Watershed Assessment; Watershed Protection; Land Conservation | Initiative; Guide | N/A | State | Vermont | Region 1 | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Projects | Through a multi-year cooperative agreement awarded in 2015, the EPA is helping to support watershed protection via a healthy watersheds consortium. This consortium brings together like-minded partners from all levels of government, private organizations and industry to support individual watershed protection projects through grants, using leveraged funding from government and non-government sources together. View more information about the grant: https://www.epa.gov/hwp/healthy-watersheds-consortium-grant | Watershed Protection | Funding | N/A | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Oregon Climate Adaptation Framework | Example of a state climate change adaptation plan that recognizes protection of healthy watersheds as an integral component of adaptation planning. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development | 2021 | 2021-2025 |
| California Climate Adaptation Strategy | Example of a state climate change adaptation plan that recognizes protection of healthy watersheds as an integral component of adaptation planning. | Watershed Protection | Initiative; Technical Report | N/A | State | California | Region 9 | California Natural Resources Agency | 2009 | 2006-2010 |
| Pennsylvania Climate Adaptation Planning | Example of a state climate change adaptation plan that recognizes protection of healthy watersheds as an integral component of adaptation planning. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Pennsylvania | Region 3 | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection | 2014 | 2011-2015 |
| Wisconsin’s Changing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation | Example of a state climate change adaptation plan that recognizes protection of healthy watersheds as an integral component of adaptation planning. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Wisconsin | Region 5 | Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts | 2021 | 2021-2025 |
| Preparing for a Changing Climate – Washington State’s Integrated Climate Response Strategy | Example of a state climate change adaptation plan that recognizes protection of healthy watersheds as an integral component of adaptation planning. | Watershed Protection | Technical Report | N/A | State | Washington | Region 10 | Washington State Department of Ecology | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Toward a Resilient Watershed - Addressing Climate Change Planning in Watershed Assessments | This guidebook describes concepts and methods for understanding projected changes in climate in a watershed and evaluating potential impacts. | Watershed Assessment | Guide | Vulnerability | State | Oregon | Region 10 | Resource Innovation Group | 2012 | 2011-2015 |
| Vulnerability of estuaries to water quality change under future climate and land-use | An assessment of the vulnerability of estuary systems in the contiguous U.S. to altered nutrient loading in the future based on: (a) estuarine exposure to projected changes in total nitrogen and total phosphorus loads under several land use and climate change scenarios; (b) sensitivity (i.e., how responsive estuaries are to altered nutrient loads); and (3) adaptive capacity (i.e., how the socio-ecological system can use existing resources to reduce the impacts associated with increased exposure). | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | North Carolina State University; U.S. Geological Survey | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| National Aquatic Barrier Inventory & Prioritization Tool | A database of dams, culverts and other barriers compiled from local, state, and federal datasets. The database is a living dataset that is updated as new contributor data become available. Each barrier in the dataset includes attribute information if available, such as barrier height and upstream and downstream habitat and hydrologic characteristics. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Resilient River Explorer | Displays resilience scores for HUC12 subwatersheds in the contiguous U.S. and related data. Resilience was defined as the ability of a stream network or other aquatic setting to maintain biologic diversity even as the system changes in composition and structure in response to changes in climate. The resilience score estimated the relative capacity of a river network to maintain species diversity and ecological function under a changing climate. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Integrated Assessment; Vulnerability | National | National | National | The Nature Conservancy | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Climate Mapping For Resilience and Adaptation (CRMA) | This website is intended to help people assess local exposure to climate-related hazards. It includes a map-based assessment tool with data that illustrates how common climate hazards are projected to change over the next several decades for user-specified locations. The website also provides access to many datasets that can be useful for understanding vulnerability and for resilience planning across topics such as flooding, drought, extreme temperature, wildfire, and coastal inundation. Specific webpages with data that could support a watershed vulnerability assessment are highlighted in other rows of this table. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| U.S. Climate Thresholds | This webpage lists GIS datasets with climate threshold metrics for the United States generated from downscaled global climate model projections. The metrics quantify various temperature and precipitation characteristics above or below threshold values, such as the annual number of days above 100 degrees or days with total precipitation greater than 1 inch. Separate GIS datasets are available for different climate model scenarios and future time periods. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Coastal Inundation Curated Content | This webpage lists GIS datasets of projected coastal inundation under several different sea level rise scenarios (e.g., intermediate, intermediate-high) and future time periods. Links to additional resources relevant to assessing sea level rise impacts, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Level Rise Viewer, are also provided. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Wildfire Risk to Communities | A collection of GIS datasets describing various wildfire risk metrics across the U.S., including burn probability (the annual probability of wildfire burning in a specific location) and Wildfire Hazard Potential (an index that quantifies the relative potential for wildfire that may be difficult to manage). | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Forest Service | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA Global Change Explorer | This website includes tools, data, and guidance that can serve as a starting point for assessing the vulnerability of water, ecosystems and human health to climate change, land use change and other large-scale environmental stressors. The data and tools are relevant across multiple scientific disciplines and environmental media, providing a foundation for integrated assessments of change. Several of the resources on the website which could support a watershed vulnerability assessment are highlighted in other rows within this table. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Forest Service | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Critical Loads Mapper | This mapping tool was developed to make information more accessible on the effects of atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur. It provides access to data and maps of historical and projected future deposition rates, critical load deposition rates that can have harmful impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and critical load exceedances. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Water Quality; Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA Climate Indicators Website | The EPA partners with more than 50 data contributors from various U.S. and international government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations to compile key indicators of climate change. This website contains charts and a mapping tool to explore the data. The site also contains graphics and other materials describing examples of how climate affects people and the environment throughout the U.S. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA Sea Level Rise Exploration and Assessment Tool | This tool is intended to provide an intuitive interface for the sea level rise data included in the sea level change technical report published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The tool produces maps, graphics and statistics that allow the user to understand: the timing of future sea level rise impacts at a site; the interaction of sea level rise, tides and storm surge; and the relationship between global and local mean sea level changes. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| EPA How's My Waterway | This website is designed to provide the general public with information about the condition of local waters based on data from state, federal, tribal and local agencies. Users can identify water bodies of interest through an interactive map and view information about a water body's Clean Water Act status. The mapper also contains an Extreme Weather tab that displays projected future climate-related threats and information about the vulnerability of the watershed and associated infrastructure to extreme events. Through the Protect tab, users can also access Watershed Health Index scores from the EPA's Preliminary Healthy Watersheds Assessment. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Water Quality; Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 2025 | 2021-2025 |
| Vulnerability Assessment for Aquatic and Riparian Ecosystems in the Southwestern United States | This dataset rates cold water fish habitat and riparian corridor vulnerability to climate and other stressors across the San Juan, Little Colorado and Upper Rio Grande watersheds in the southwestern United States. For each HUC12 subwatershed in the project area, the dataset includes scores for exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and overall vulnerability based on multiple indicators. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | Regional | Arizona; Colorado; New Mexico; Utah; Wyoming | Region 8; Region 9 | U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies | 2018 | 2016-2020 |
| Cold Water Climate Shield | This website hosts GIS data and related information that describes specific locations of cold-water refuge streams for native Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout across the American West. Knowledge of existing and projected future locations of refugia could enable the protection of key watersheds, be used to rally support among multiple stakeholders, and provide a foundation for planning conservation networks that improve the odds of preserving native trout populations into the future. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Habitat; Vulnerability | Regional | Arizona; California; Colorado; Idaho; Montana; Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Utah; Washington; Wyoming | Region 8; Region 9; Region 10 | U.S. Forest Service | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Modeled Stream Temperatures for the Western U.S. | This project used statistical modeling to develop GIS datasets of mean August stream temperatures across the western United States for historic and future time periods. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Habitat; Vulnerability | Regional | Arizona; California; Colorado; Idaho; Montana; Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Utah; Washington; Wyoming | Region 8; Region 9; Region 10 | U.S. Forest Service | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| Modeled Streamflow Metrics for the Contiguous U.S | This webpage provides access to a geospatial dataset of historical and projected future streamflow metrics for stream segments in the National Hydrography Dataset Plus. The data were developed from hydrologic models applied to simulate conditions across the United States. Example streamflow metrics in the dataset include: mean annual and seasonal flows; 1.5-, 10- and 25-year flood magnitudes; and various low flow statistics. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Forest Service | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Coastal Change Hazards Portal | An interactive map for viewing and accessing data with estimates of historic, present-day and projected future changes to coasts. Examples include inundation likelihood, shoreline position change, beach and dune morphology change, and measures of coastal vulnerability to sea level rise. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Geological Survey | 2017 | 2016-2020 |
| National Climate Change Viewer | This web application was developed to visualize climate projections that have been statistically downscaled to high spatial resolution for the contiguous United States. Users can visualize projected changes in air temperature, precipitation and water balance metrics (snow water equivalent, runoff, soil water storage, and evaporative deficit) for a specific area of interest. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | National | National | National | U.S. Geological Survey | 2023 | 2021-2025 |
| Watershed-based Midwest Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool | This interactive, watershed-based climate change vulnerability map for the Midwest was developed for use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to facilitate work across programs to prioritize locations for adaptation planning and for developing adaptation strategies. The map combines 15 climate change impact metrics and five adaptive capacity metrics that were selected based on known and anticipated impacts to species and habitats. Map development is described in a peer-reviewed journal article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107581 | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Vulnerability | Regional | Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Ohio; Wisconsin | Region 5; Region 7 | U.S. Geological Survey | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
| Forests to Faucets | Forests to Faucets provides information that can help identify watersheds of interest for protecting or restoring forests to benefit surface drinking water supply. The assessment scores HUC12 subwatersheds across the U.S. based on their importance to surface drinking water, ability to produce clean water, and potential threats to surface drinking water. An interactive mapping tool is available for viewing the assessment results and associated data. | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Landscape Condition; Vulnerability | Regional | National | National | U.S. Forest Service | 2024 | 2021-2025 |
| Modeled hydrologic alteration and ecological consequences in stream reaches of the conterminous United States | This dataset contains 43 modeled streamflow metrics that characterize hydrologic alteration for stream segments in the National Hydrography Dataset Plus. The dataset also contains metrics that summarize results of modeling to estimate native fish biodiversity losses due to hydrologic alteration. Additional information on the dataset is documented in: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01566-1 | Watershed Assessment | Data and Tools | Hydrology; Biological Condition | National | National | National | Baylor University | 2022 | 2021-2025 |
Filter Definitions
- The Topic column broadly classifies a project as relevant to watershed assessment or watershed protection and also flags projects that are potentially relevant to land conservation efforts.
| Topic | Definition |
|---|---|
| Watershed Assessment | Projects that involve analysis of landscape condition, aquatic habitat, hydrology, geomorphology, water quality, biological condition, or vulnerability. These projects typically conduct analysis and mapping for a specific study area; however, they can also include guidance documents that describe analysis methods generally. |
| Watershed Protection | Projects that involve efforts to protect healthy watersheds or individual attributes of healthy watersheds. These projects may include: government or non-government protection programs and partnerships; projects that identify priority areas or activities for protection; protection plans for specific locations; or general guidance that can support protection planning and implementation. |
| Land Conservation | A subset of Watershed Protection projects that are specifically relevant to land conservation (i.e., acquisition and stewardship of land or conservation easements). These projects may be of particular interest to land trusts or other groups in the land conservation community. |
- The Type column classifies whether the project: generated a technical report, guide, dataset, or tool; is an ongoing initiative; or provides information on a potential source of funding for watershed protection.
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Data and Tools | Geographic Information System (GIS) map layers, downloadable datasets and online or desktop tools for analysis and mapping. |
| Technical Report | Technical documents that report on a project's analysis methods and results. |
| Guide | Guidance documents or manuals that explain general methods, strategies or techniques for assessment or protection. |
| Initiative | Government or non-government programs involved in watershed assessment or protection. |
| Funding | Projects that describe potential funding sources for watershed protection. |
- The Watershed Attribute Assessed column can be used to filter watershed assessment projects based on the scope of the assessment.
| Watershed Attribute Assessed | Definition |
|---|---|
| Landscape Condition | Projects that assess the condition or configuration of natural land cover on the landscape. |
| Habitat | Projects that assess the condition of aquatic habitats (e.g., stream or river channels, lakes and reservoirs, wetlands, riparian zones or floodplains) or the extent of aquatic habitat for one or more species of interest. |
| Hydrology | Projects that assess the quantity and timing of streamflow or water level fluctuations and related hydrologic processes. |
| Geomorphology | Projects that assess stream bed or bank erosion, siltation or other geomorphic processes in water bodies and the surrounding landscape. |
| Water Quality | Projects that assess the chemical or physical characteristics of water bodies. |
| Biological Condition | Projects that assess the condition of biological communities in aquatic ecosystems or the presence of one or more species of interest. |
| Vulnerability | Projects that assess future impacts of increased development, population growth or other factors that can affect watershed health. |
| Integrated Assessment | Projects that involve an integrated assessment of multiple watershed health attributes. |