In 1991 EPA embraced the watershed protection approach for environmental management. EPA defines watershed protection as â a strategy for effectively protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems and protecting human health.â To encourage statewide watershed protection, EPA developed the “Statewide Watershed Protection Approach” document, which is designed to aid states in developing their own watershed protection program. The watershed protection approach is not a program or policy required by EPA, rather a flexible framework that outlines the essential elements and components of a comprehensive statewide watershed protection approach. It allows for varying conditions in a state, but attempts to ensure a consistent general approach. This paper describes the elements and components of EPA’s comprehensive statewide watershed protection framework. It then analyzes Washington, Minnesota, and Oregon’s statewide watershed protection programs, and examines how these state approaches reflect EPA's framework. In addition, the paper analyzes a case study in each of these states to explore how these statewide watershed management approaches are implemented at the local level. By analyzing states that have successfully implemented a statewide watershed protection approach, this paper aims to identify the critical elements in a statewide watershed protection approach, and identify the issues that are critical to successful local implementation. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

The purpose of this research is to examine the ways in which public contributions, as part of a larger public participation program, can shape the use of the Canadian Water Sustainability Index (CWSI) and increase its relevance to the communities for which it is used. A case study in the Clear Lake watershed in Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP), in Manitoba, was undertaken in which stakeholder and partner perceptions, knowledge, concerns and priorities were gathered through a questionnaire and interviews from August to November 2009. This information provided a lens through which the CWSI could be viewed regarding its social relevancy. Public consultation highlighted four main areas of interest upon which indicators can be focused: bottled water use; well water reliance; water conservation and efficiency; and communications. While the identification and development of indicators will be led primarily by RMNP, the indicators will be used in monitoring, reporting, and communicating within the watershed community. Socially relevant indicators are intended to complement scientific indicators concurrently being developed for the Clear Lake watershed. Public participation increased the relevancy of the CWSI to suit local needs, although the participative process was limited by time, complexity of the information, and a necessarily broad survey.

Fecal contamination is the pollution caused by the microorganisms residing in the intestine of warm blooded animals and humans. Bacteria are the prime cause of contamination of surface waters in the US. The transport of microorganisms into waterways can have detrimental effects on water quality and human health especially if the pathogenic strains are ingested. E. coli is used as an indicator of fecal contamination. Detection of these bacteria in a water body above set limits poses a potential health hazard. Various sources contribute to the bacterial contamination of a water body. The sources need to be identified and quantified for their E. coli content to measure bacteria loads in the waterbody accurately. In many cases, in-situ re-growth is also believed to be a considerable source of E. coli. Also re-growth of E. coli in landscapes due to favorable environmental conditions (e.g., rainfall after dry weather conditions) is one of the major phenomena affecting E. coli concentration in streams. Thus the environmental factors like temperature and soil moisture that influence transport, persistence, re-growth, and survival of E. coli in landscapes were studied. The objective of this study was to identify, characterize and quantify E. coli loads from feces of four different animals and monitor survival, growth and re-growth at four different temperatures and moisture contents over a period of seven days. Findings of this research will aid in Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) development and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development to address impairment from point and non-point source pollution of E. coli. Wildlife and range cattle manure samples responsible for fecal contamination of Cedar Creek were identified and four fecal sources out of those were quantified for the E. coli concentrations. No significant difference was found upon comparing the E. coli concentration for each species between the genders. Sub-adult cattle demonstrated significantly higher E. coli concentrations than adult cattle. Growth and die-off rates were measured at different temperatures (0degreesC, 10degreesC, 25degreesC, and 50degreesC) and moisture conditions (1%, 25% 56.5% and 83%). E. coli concentrations in cattle and raccoons feces showed highest survivability and growth at 20degreesC out of all the temperatures studied. There was no survival of E. coli from either species at 50degreesC after 24 h. E. coli in cattle and raccoons samples exhibited greater growth at lower, nearly aerobic soil moisture content (25%) for all days compared to nearly anaerobic soil moisture content (83%).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 87 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-85).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-144). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2003. / Title from title page screen (viewed Mar. 22, 2004). Thesis advisor: Carol P. Harden. Document formatted into pages (x, 149 p. : col. ill., col. maps). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-78).

Thesis (M.S.)--Pennsylvania State University, 2009. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. Thesis advisor: Erica A.H. Smithwick.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-248).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Pennsylvania State University, 1999. / Diskette not included. --UMI note. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-92).

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