Nine Elements of an EPA-Approved Watershed Based Plan
1)Â Impairment: Identification of causes of impairment and pollutant sources or groups of similar sources that need to be controlled to achieve load reductions and other goals identified in the watershed plan.
2) Load Reduction: An estimate of the load reductions expected from management measures. Several models have been developed for estimating load reductions. Modeling can be simple or complex depending on the application.
3) Management Measures: A description of the management measures that will need to be implemented to achieve load reductions, and a description of the critical areas in which those measures will be needed to implement this plan.
4) Technical and Financial Assistance: Estimate of the amounts of technical and financial assistance needed, associated costs, and/or the sources and authorities that will be relied upon to implement the plan.
5) Public Information and Education: An information and education component used to enhance public understanding of the project and encourage their early and continued participation in selecting, designing, and implementing the nonpoint source management measures that will be implemented.
6) Schedule: A reasonable expeditious schedule for implementing the nonpoint source management measures identified in the plan.
7) Milestones: A description of interim measurable milestones for determining whether nonpoint source management measures or other control actions are being implemented.
8) Performance: A set of criteria that can be used to determine whether loading reductions are being achieved over time and substantial progress is being made toward attaining water quality standards.
9) Monitoring: A monitoring component to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation efforts over time.