Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Many people also enjoy lakes and streams for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also need healthy watersheds for food and shelter.

Managing the water and other natural resources is an effective and efficient way to sustain the local economy and environmental health.

Scientists and leaders now recognize the best way to protect the vital natural resources is to understand and manage them on a watershed basis. Everything that is done in a watershed affects the watershed's system.

A partnership among all who live, work or play in the watershed can help identify concerns, educate those involved and encourage them to take action. Watershed management plans focus on prevention of pollution. This is easier and cheaper than trying to cleanup a watershed after the fact.

The watershed where you live is a dynamic and unique place. It is a complex web of natural resources - soil, water, air, plants and animals. Yet, everyday activities can impact these resources, ultimately impacting our well-being and economic livelihood.

One important feature is the size of the watershed. Some are very large and include many smaller river basins or watersheds. These smaller watersheds can be subdivided into even smaller areas. The ideal size for a voluntary partnership to work with is 50,000 acres or less. At this size your group will likely see water quality improvements sooner than in larger areas. Of course, in regions of the United States where ranchers, foresters and others manage large tracts of land, you may be working with a much larger watershed.

Another important feature is the geographic boundary of the watershed. The boundary is formed by a ridge or high area from which water drains either toward or away from your watershed.

The topography (terrain) is another important feature. How flat or steep the land is impacts how fast water drains. The faster the drainage, the more potential for flooding and increased soil erosion.

Soil type is also important. For example, sandy soils allow the ground to soak up water faster. This reduces surface runoff, but can affect ground water. Clay soils, on the other hand, are tighter and do not allow as much water infiltration. This can lead to more runoff and soil erosion.

Whether your watershed drains into a stream or lake, the area nearest the water greatly affects water quality. This is why filter/buffer strips, wildlife habitat, wetlands and riparian areas are important aspects of your watershed.

Both filter/buffer strips and wetlands utilize nutrients and tie up sediment to help improve water quality. Wetlands also act as natural sponges to absorb peak flows of water and reduce flooding. Many fish and wildlife species rely on wetlands for rearing their young, and for food and shelter.

All activities within the watershed have an impact on its natural resources. Cities, homes, roads and factories modify the watershed and affect its natural resources. Farming, recreation, mining, construction and forestry can also significantly affect a watershed.

One trend you may want to note is whether or not more homes are being built in rural areas. This can lead to conflicts over watershed issues such as livestock odor, pesticide use or septic systems. It can also lead to significant changes in land use, which can affect water quality and property values.

Water can be used by municipalities and local industries. Farms also rely on water for irrigation and livestock. Many people enjoy water for recreational uses like fishing, swimming and boating. So the water quality and quantity are important to the watershed's stakeholders.

Air quality, wildlife, soil quality and the other natural resources can also be important aspects of watershed management.

To fully understand watershed you'll also need to understand how the people who live use it, work and play there. These are the stakeholders who need to be involved in the planning and implementing process. For this reason, they'll need to be a part of the watershed partnership.

A sound local economy is also important to everyone with a stake in the watershed. That's why it's important to consider the local economy and ways to sustain or improve it through successful watershed management.

Most people rely on their beliefs and experiences, rather than on scientific data, to shape their attitudes. This means that when their perceptions don't match reality, people react to their perceptions, not reality.

Although experts disagree, most people perceive there is more risk today than in the past. In addition, more people are striving for a risk-free world. These people often resist making trade-offs, particularly those between the economy and the environment.

By using a partnership approach you'll find greater local initiative, responsiveness, and control. Partnerships can build a climate of cooperation and focus on solutions. A plan developed by a local partnership is often more effective and efficient than other methods such as broad sweeping regulations. The result is the improved environmental and economic health of your watershed.

  Rainwater Harvesting

nRainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as more complex techniques such as underground check dams. The techniques usually found in Asia and Africa arises from practices employed by ancient civilizations within these regions and still serves as a major source of drinking water supply in rural areas. Commonly used systems are constructed of three principal components; namely, the catchment area, the collection device, and the conveyance system.

Rainwater harvesting technologies are simple to install and operate. Local people can be easily trained to implement such technologies, and construction   materials are also readily available. Rainwater harvesting is convenient in the sense that it provides water at the point of consumption, and family members have full control of their own systems, which greatly reduces operation and maintenance problems. Running costs, also, are almost negligible. Water collected from roof catchments usually is of acceptable quality for domestic purposes. As it is collected using existing structures not specially constructed for the purpose, rainwater harvesting has few negative environmental impacts compared to other water supply project technologies. Although regional or other local factors can modify the local climatic conditions, rainwater can be a continuous source of water supply for both the rural and poor. Depending upon household capacity and needs, both the water collection and storage capacity may be increased as needed within the available catchment area.