For years, efforts to improve water quality nationwide focused on distinct sources of pollution such as industry and sewage treatment operations. Other efforts focused on specific water resources such as segments of a river or creek. While that approach was successful in addressing particular problems, it often failed to target the more chronic issues that contribute to a watershed’s decline.

In recent years, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has encouraged agencies like MMSD to use a “watershed” approach to planning to better address water resource issues. While this approach is not a radical departure from traditional planning, it is a significant step forward because it considers all activities within a landscape that impact the health of the watershed. Decisions are based on all the water resources, all the water uses and all the threats to water quality throughout a common geographical area.

By looking beyond city limit signs to include the bigger watershed picture, many communities in southeast Wisconsin can deal more efficiently with water resource issues, and they can do it more cost effectively. If designed and implemented properly, the watershed approach can link the initiatives of local, state and regional frameworks that complement and strengthen each other as well as individual projects.

Used effectively around the country in areas like the Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast and Detroit’s Rouge River, the watershed approach is based on three key components:

• Watersheds (Nature’s boundaries, not man’s.)
• Sound science (Strong scientific data, tools and techniques are critical to the process.)
• Public Involvement and Partnerships (Involving concerned individuals, agencies and organizations having a stake in the condition of their watersheds meaningfully ties programs to people.)

Water Quality Initiative
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
May 17, 2008