Why plan on a watershed?

The watershed planning process originated in the early 1990's out of public and government concern for the protection and where possible improvement of our water resources. One of the reasons that it has been so successful is that it uses watershed boundaries and an ecosystem approach to planning. David Crombie defines ecosystems as "dynamic, interacting, living systems: humans are part of them, not separate". The ecosystem approach embraces the concept that "everything is connected to everything else". It recognizes that human land use activities can have significant impacts on our water resources and subsequently the aquatic and terrestrial organisms, which depend on these resources to survive.

Water does not recognize political boundaries. Therefore, watershed planning can enable decision-makers to accommodate both land use and ecosystem needs across municipal jurisdictions. It allows water managers to keep a firm focus on water issues and water-based resources in the context of other ecosystem issues, and in the larger context of land use-ecosystem considerations. By the same token, it allows land use planners to make better decisions about appropriate land uses. This ensures that human land use impacts are minimized to protect the natural environment.

Implementation of a watershed plan requires more than just environmental decision making but a change in the attitude of the community. As a stakeholder, the community can begin to adapt its behaviour and become environmental practitioners involved in the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.