A User's Guide to Watershed Planning in Maryland

A User’s Guide to Watershed Planning in Maryland presents a common watershed planning framework for Maryland communities, assembles planning resources into one place, integrates regulatory drivers, and presents the methods necessary for completing a local watershed plan. Local government staff are the primary audience for this guide. Other groups writing watershed plans in Maryland such as watershed organizations are also encouraged to utilize this framework. The Guide incorporates a review of more than 47 local watershed planning surveys; a review of existing watershed management planning guides; and research on Maryland GIS mapping, monitoring, modeling, and financial resources available to watershed planners. The Guide starts by introducing a basic eight-step framework for developing watershed plans followed by 27 principles of an effective watershed plan. The remainder of the guide is dedicated to describing the methods used to complete the steps and meet the principles. The methods are organized into four broad categories: desktop analysis, field assessment, stakeholder involvement, and management methods. User’s Guide downloadable tools are provided in lieu of appendices and are referenced throughout the document.

Note: (The majority of documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader which can be downloaded free from http://www.adobe.com)

Download the entire User's Guide to Watershed Planning in Maryland (Adobe Acrobat file 5.64MB) or click on the links below to download individual sections.

User's Guide to Watershed Planning in Maryland

• Cover and Acknowledgements (Adobe Acrobat file 1.62MB)
• Forward (Adobe Acrobat file 122KB)
• Table of Contents (Adobe Acrobat file 139KB)
• Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Local Watershed Planning (Adobe Acrobat file 376KB)
• Chapter 2: The Context for Watershed Planning in the State of Maryland (Adobe Acrobat file 526KB)
• Chapter 3: Getting Started (Adobe Acrobat file 542KB)
• Chapter 4: Desktop Assessment Methods (Adobe Acrobat file 1.32MB)
• Chapter 5: Field Assessment Methods (Adobe Acrobat file 1.6MB)
• Chapter 6: Stakeholder Involvement Methods (Adobe Acrobat file 333KB)
• Chapter 7: Management Methods (Adobe Acrobat file 381KB)
• References (Adobe Acrobat file 109KB)

Downloadable Tools

• Directory of User Guide Tools (Acrobat file 17KB)
• Tool 1 MD Contacts (Acrobat file 139KB)
• Tool 2 GIS Resources (Acrobat file 175KB)
• Tool 3 Monitoring Resources (Acrobat file 183KB)
• Tool 4 Funding Resources (Acrobat file 185KB)
• Tool 5 Relevant Programs and Resources (Acrobat file 146KB)
• Tool 6 Model Scopes of Work (Acrobat file 273KB)
• Tool 7 Estimated Scoping and Practice Costs (Acrobat file 335KB)
• Tool 8 Needs and Capabilities Assessment (Acrobat file 374KB)
• Tool 9 Smart Watersheds Benchmarking Tool (Acrobat file 34KB)
• Tool 10 Development Capacity Analysis (Acrobat file 347KB)
• Tool 11 Leaf Out Analysis (Acrobat file 1.26MB)
• Tool 12 Watershed Vulnerability (Acrobat file 640KB)
• Tool 13 Comparative Subwatershed Analysis (Acrobat file 380KB)
• Tool 14 Eight Tools Audit (Acrobat file 838KB)
• Tool 15 Modeling Resources (Acrobat file 357KB)
• Tool 16 Watershed Treatment Model Cover Page (Acrobat file 36KB)
• Tool 16 Watershed Treatment Model Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet format 422KB)
• Tool 17 Stream Assessment Field Sheets (Acrobat file 763KB)
• Tool 18 Unified Subwatershed and Site Reconnaissance Field Forms (Acrobat file 812KB)
• Tool 19 Project Investigation Field Sheets (Acrobat file 656KB)
• Tool 20 Stakeholder Profile Sheets (Acrobat file 662KB)
• Tool 21 Stakeholder Education Resources (Acrobat file 150KB)
• Tool 22 Management Profile Sheets (Acrobat file 1.83MB)

last updated February 16, 2006