Management Considerations
The watershed characterization results can help you make management decisions, but you need to look at individual AUs in the context of the entire watershed management unit. The Watershed Management Index presents a set of common watershed scenarios occurring across the Puget Sound. Each watershed scenario reflects a general pattern of upstream and downstream conditions within a WMU as well as well as the general patterns of land use.
STEP 1
You will need to consider upstream and downstream conditions occurring within your watershed. To start, use overall restoration and protection results for water flow to identify conditions in the upper and lower AUs (patterns of dark and light green, yellow, orange, and pink). Based on these results, generally divide your area in half (based on the dominant color or color combinations in the upper versus the lower watershed areas).
STEP 2
Review the Watershed Management Index to identify and select the watershed management scenario with greatest parallels to the upper and lower watershed dominant colors for your area. The Index also highlights common land use (open space, forestry, rural, agricultural, suburban, urban) and landscape (lowland, coastal & lowland, lowland & mountainous, and mountainous) patterns that occur for each respective scenario; also consider these patterns when identifying the scenario with most similarities to your area.
STEP 3
Explore additional management recommendations through the Watershed Management Matrix.
STEP 4
Consider other Ecology and WDFW guidance information for watershed management.
Watershed Management Index
Use this Index to identify the watershed management scenario with greatest parallels to the WMU(s) within your area. Click the appropriate scenario to learn more, including general management strategies appropriate to each. See Step 1 above, and Getting Started content for more information.
After you have reviewed relevant Management Scenarios, explore additional management strategies through the Watershed Management Matrix. Additionally, consider other Ecology and WDFW guidance information for watershed management.
The watershed characterization results can help you make management decisions, but you need to look at individual AUs in the context of the entire watershed management unit. The Watershed Management Index presents a set of common watershed scenarios occurring across the Puget Sound. Each watershed scenario reflects a general pattern of upstream and downstream conditions within a WMU as well as well as the general patterns of land use.
STEP 1
You will need to consider upstream and downstream conditions occurring within your watershed. To start, use overall restoration and protection results for water flow to identify conditions in the upper and lower AUs (patterns of dark and light green, yellow, orange, and pink). Based on these results, generally divide your area in half (based on the dominant color or color combinations in the upper versus the lower watershed areas).
STEP 2
Review the Watershed Management Index to identify and select the watershed management scenario with greatest parallels to the upper and lower watershed dominant colors for your area. The Index also highlights common land use (open space, forestry, rural, agricultural, suburban, urban) and landscape (lowland, coastal & lowland, lowland & mountainous, and mountainous) patterns that occur for each respective scenario; also consider these patterns when identifying the scenario with most similarities to your area.
STEP 3
Explore additional management recommendations through the Watershed Management Matrix.
STEP 4
Consider other Ecology and WDFW guidance information for watershed management.
Watershed Management Index
Use this Index to identify the watershed management scenario with greatest parallels to the WMU(s) within your area. Click the appropriate scenario to learn more, including general management strategies appropriate to each. See Step 1 above, and Getting Started content for more information.
After you have reviewed relevant Management Scenarios, explore additional management strategies through the Watershed Management Matrix. Additionally, consider other Ecology and WDFW guidance information for watershed management.