US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

US Army Corps of EngineersWatershed Authorities, Policies and ProceduresMichael GreerRegional Technical Specialist

Buffalo District

23 June 2011

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Increasing Demands for:

Integrated problem solving Studies and projects that address multiple purposes

and interests Inclusive processes that engage stakeholders Collaborative partnerships -w/multiple players (to

leverage and address interconnectedness)

“System approaches” that address interconnectedness of projects, activities, players

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In CW Watershed Planning

Think problem solving, not projects Identifying actions and priorities involves more

than projects -► Program integration for better problem solving, and

greater implementation synergies – w/in Corps and w/others

► Integrate all Corps programs in the watershed • existing project management and operation,

rehab, DMMPs, Regulatory activities, studies

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Corps Watershed Guidance and Policy Planning Guidance Letter No. 97-8, Watershed Management,

Restoration and Development, dated 3 July 1997 (Section 503 0f WRDA 96)

PGL 61 - Application of a Watershed Perspective to Corps of Engineers Civil Works Programs and Activities (27 Jan 1999)

Implementation Memo for Sec 202, WRDA 2000 -Watershed and River Basin Assessments, 29 May 2001, Amended Sec 729 of WRDA 86

Implementation Memo for Section 2010 of WRDA 2007 – Watershed and River Assessments, March 7, 2008. Also amended Section 729 of WRDA 86

ER 1105-2-100 (Planning Guidance Notebook , 22 April 2000)- Including Appendix F revision #2, dated 31 January 2007

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Corps Watershed Guidance and Policy

Section 22 of WRDA 74, as amended by Section 2013 of WRDA 07 –Appendix G of ER 1105-2-100

EC 1105-2-409, Planning in a Collaborative Environment (projects)

Section 5002 of WRDA 2007, Watershed Management (no guidance yet)

EC 1105-2-411 dated 15 January 2010

Annual Budget EC

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Watershed PrinciplesPGL #61

Sustainability Coordinated planning and

management Interagency cooperation Leveraging

resources/program integration

Interdisciplinary teams

Public Involvement Trade-off evaluation Forecast future water

resource demands Adaptive Management

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Planning in a Collaborative Environment

EC 1105-2-409 To enhance collaborative approach to water resources

management ► Watershed / system vs. site specific► Multiple purposes / multiple partnerships

To integrate others’ expertise, programs and financialsupport/leveraging of resources

To fully utilize flexibility and authority of Principles and Guidelines

Applies to project development in a watershed context (New Principles and Guidelines will reflect these

concepts)

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Provides guidance on watershed planning for Integrated Water Resources Management

Emphasizes Systems Approach, Collaboration (Partnerships), Leveraging of Resources, Larger Geographic Areas

Follows Six Step CW Planning Process Framework Output – Watershed or Strategic Plan May identify potential Corps projects for further study Have an interim Assessment (Study) Agreement Model

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Watershed Planning for IWRM- Identifies needs from any source- Develops a joint vision of a desired end state regardless of agency responsibility- Identifies potential Corps projects consistent with mission areas- Uses Corps planning capability to facilitate collaborative planning to identify technically sound, environmentally sustainable, and economically efficient means to achieve multiple goals.

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Systems Approach- Many competing demands and systems in a watershed- Land and water resources- Cumulative effects of any action in the system must be considered- Achieve interdependent , long term holistic solutions

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Public Involvement, Collaboration, and Coordination- Three related but different activities- Purpose of all three is to maintain open channels of communication- Appendix B of ER 1105-2-100- Shared Vision Planning - CEQ Handbook- Corps cannot relinquish its statutory decision-making responsibility

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Leverage Resources- Allow Federal and non-Federal programs to work

together over time- Share data, expertise, program, and funding with other

Federal, State, Tribal and local governments- Use limited resources in a more integrated fashion to

achieve a greater sum

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Follow Six Step Planning Process Framework - Define Study Area- Identify Problems and Opportunities- Inventory and Forecast Conditions- Evaluate and Compare Alternative Approaches (2 steps)- Plan or Strategy Selection

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Benefit Evaluations Cost Estimates Engineering NEPA and Environmental Compliance Real Estate Data Quality and Model Quality Assurance

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EC 1105-2-411Watershed Plans

Study Process- Initial Assessment to identify a non-Federal sponsor and to define the scope, objective of the watershed study, prepare a Watershed Assessment Management Plan and negotiate a cost sharing agreement - $100,000.- Assessment is cost shared 75%/25% and sponsors may contribute their share in kind.- Must have a Review Plan- A non-profit may be a non-Federal sponsor- Interim 729 Assessment Agreement available- Review and approval at HQUSACE- Potential Corps projects must compete as feasibility new start

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NOTE!!

Watershed study – a study to plan a better way to manage water (and other) resources in a watershed (a watershed plan) Watershed approach or – system

approach are applicable to allprojects, programs and activities –►Integrative, collaborative, multi-objective,

interdependencies considered

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FY 12 BUDGET EC 11-2-19931 March 2010

Watershed studies – key attributes: Identify a combination of recommended actions (a Watershed Management

Plan) to be undertaken by various partners and stakeholders in order to achieve local, tribal, regional, and national water resources management goals identified in the study and may or may not identify further budgetable Corps studies or implementation projects.

Require team thinking about water resources development and management in the context of multiple purposes rather than single purposes, and, thus, facilitates the search for comprehensive and integrated solutions.

Improve opportunities for public and private groups to identify and achieve common goals by unifying on-going and future efforts and leveraging resources.

Leverage resources, including cost shared collaboration, and integrates programs and activities within and among Civil Works programs, and with other Federal, tribal state and nongovernmental organizations, to improve consistency and cost effectiveness;

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FY 12 BUDGET EC 11-2-19931 March 2010

Watershed studies are planning initiatives that have a multi-purpose and multi-objective scope and accommodate flexibility and collaboration in the planning process. As a minimum, the study area must encompass the region of an 8 digit HUC. Following the reconnaissance study, a study may proceed as a watershed assessment (75/25) under Section 729 of WRDA 86, as amended, or as a feasibility study accomplished in a watershed context in accordance with the standard feasibility study process (50/50).

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Section 729 of WRDA 86,as amended by Sec 202 WRDA 2000 and

Section 2010 of WRDA 07 Examine needs relating to:

► Ecosystem protection & restoration; flood damage reduction, navigation & ports; watershed protection; water supply; drought preparedness

Cooperate w/ Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, EPA Consult w/ tribal, state & local govt entities Cost Sharing 75/25; in-kind credit allowed Original Guidance Memo 29 May 2001 …(continued)

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Section 729 of WRDA 86, as amended by Sec 202 WRDA 2000

and Section 2010 of WRDA 07

Products can be:► Plans or management documents that identify actions

to be taken by partners and stakeholders to meet the objectives of the plan,

► Not just projects recommended for Corps implementation.

► New Guidance in EC 1105-2-411

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Watershed Planning

NGO’s

StateAgencies

Stakeholders collaborate by sharing their:

in order to develop a

multi-purpose Strategic

Watershed Plan

AllCorps Vision

Think problem solving, not projects.

Tribes

Federal Agencies

Leveraged Resources(Federal, State, and Local)

•Experience•Resources•Data•Tools•Skills

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Watershed PlanningCorps Planning Pathways

Corps as the Lead Stakeholder

Traditional Feasibility

Study

Corps Project for Design & Construction

Report withRecommendations

Corps as Participating Stakeholder

Participate as Needed Skills

Experience

Tools

Data

Authorities

No Additional Corps Involvement (Participate in

Updates)

Watershed Process

Watershed Plan

Initial Watershed Assessment (Reconnaissance-like)

Final Watershed Assessment

(Feasibility-like)

Report for Information to Congress

Traditional Reconnaissance Study(Watershed Approach

Using EC-409)

Watershed Path Technical Support PathProject Path

Watershed Management Plan

Potential ProjectSpin-offs

Potential ProjectSpin-offs

Corps InvolvementLevel

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Why Watershed Plans Fail to Achieve Desired Goals

Planning activities conducted at too great of a scale Plan was a one-time study rather than long-term

management process Lack of stakeholder involvement and ownership Skirting of real land use/management issues Plan was too long or complex Recommendations were too general Failure to identify and address conflicts

Source: Center for Watershed Protection