Watershed Management Plans Research Articles

Assessment of Soil Erosion with RUSLE 3D and USPED in the Nekor Watershed (Northern Morocco)

Over the last decades, estimation of soil erosion using empirical models has long been an active research topic, especially because they are useful to establish watershed management plans. Nevertheless, their application over large areas in a data-scarce Mediterranean region is still a challenge given the furrowed and steep nature of landscapes as well as the aggressiveness of the semi-arid climate. The main purpose of this research was to identify the spatial patterns of erosion and deposition in Nekor river basin (Northern Morocco) using two models: the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation for Complex Terrain (RUSLE3D) and the Unit Stream Power-based Erosion Deposition (USPED). The two models were evaluated using existing annual soil loss rate measurements. As a result of the RUSLE3D application, about the 73% of the Nekor basin ranges between moderate and extreme risks of erosion, while according to USPED estimation, only 50% of the basin ranges between moderate and extreme risks of erosion. The analysis shows that the mean annual soil erosion rate for both models ranges between 60 and 65 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1 while the mean annual deposition rate is 38 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1. The current results confirmed those coming from previous soil erosion studies, which estimated annual soil loss rates in Nekor river basin between 50 and 70 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1. This study also provided valuable guidance on where to implement soil protection measures.

Large decrease in streamflow and sediment load of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau driven by future climate change: A case study in Lhasa River Basin

The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change, and fully understanding the impacts of climate on the hydrological process in this region is desired. This study explores the impacts of climate change on the hydrological processes of the Lhasa River Basin (LRB) in QTP based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The model is fed with bias-corrected future climatic data derived from three global circulation models (ACCESS1.3, MRI-CGCM3, and MPI-ESM-MR) under two emission scenarios (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5) within two periods (mid-century and end-century). The results indicate that the sediment load and streamflow of LRB would significantly decrease, and the reduction of former is consistently higher than the that of latter in all scenarios and periods. Changes in streamflow and sediment load are mainly caused by temperature increase. The findings provide additional insights into the impacts of climate change on the hydrologic processes of typical basins in QTP and assist decision-makers in developing watershed management plans.

Study of Land Use Change for Preparation of Watershed Management Planning

In an integrated approach, watershed management crucially needed to maintain condition and quality of watershed. Land use change is one of main causes of watershed condition and quality changing. Therefore, it required planning alternatives suggestions to prevent and recover the watershed degradation. The research was carried out to study about watershed changes and degradation due to land use change and investigating for the best alternative to restore Ciujung Watershed, Banten, Indonesia using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Research result showed that the reduced of forest area (plantation forest, primary dryland forest, secondary dryland forest) and the increased of dryland agricultural, dryland mixed farming (mixed with bush, plantation, rice fields and bushes) caused the increase of river flow. Several alternative soil and water conservation techniques as if reforestation, agroforestry, strip cropping, contour cropping, dam building and the application of bio-retention hole could be done for land management to maintain and improve the condition and quality of Ciujung Watershed which is indicated by a decrease in values of River Regime Coefficient (RRC), surface runoff coefficient, and sediment yield.

Dynamic Analysis Of Soil Erosion-Based Watershed Health

Accelerated soil erosion is one of the most important detrimental factors affecting the quality of the watershed health. Due to different environmental pressures and drivers, the effort is needed for ecological health and resilience assessment in regards to erosion changeability. However, this important subject has not been adequately studied yet. Towards this, in the present research, an innovative approach was developed for conceptualizing the watershed health dynamics in viewpoint of soil erosion. A risk-based study was conducted to quantitatively characterize the spatiotemporal variability of erosion-based health in an industrialized watershed i.e., the Shazand Watershed using the conceptual reliability, resilience and vulnerability (RelResVul) framework for four node years of 1986, 1998, 2008 and 2014. To this end, the soil erosion was estimated at monthly scale in 24 sub-watersheds by applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The RelResVul indicators were then computed according to the threshold defined for the study watershed. A geometric mean was used to combine the three risk indicators and the erosion-based watershed health index was ultimately calculated for each study sub-watershed. Additionally, the change detection analysis was conducted over the years of 1986 to 2014. According to the results of erosion-based the RelResVul indices, very healthy, healthy, moderately healthy, unhealthy and very un-healthy conditions in the Shazand Watershed were respectively distributed over some 67, 25, zero, zero and eight percent for 1986; 50, 13, eight, zero and 29 % for 1998; 71, eight, 83, zero, zero and eight percent for 2008 and finally 71, zero, 17, zero and 12 % for 2014. The results of change detection revealed an oscillating trend of erosion-based watershed health index during the whole study period (1986 -2014). So that, during periods of 1986-1998, 1986-2008 and 1986-2014, the watershed health decreased at tune of 23, 13 and six percent, respectively. Whilst, the watershed health improved during study periods of 1998-2008 (13 %), 2008-2014 (eight percent) and 1998-2014 (22 %). The results also identified ‘hot spots’ of the most important index of land degradation and ‘bright spots’ of land improvement in the Shazand Watershed.The proposed approach would provide a sustainable framework supporting decision makers to comprehend health-related soil erosion targets according to the integrated watershed management plans.

Landscape Fragmentation, Ecosystem Services and Local Knowledge in the Baroro River Watershed, Northern Philippines

Landscape fragmentation, the breaking up of land use type into smaller parcels, isdamaging watersheds worldwide. Without addressing its causes, landscape fragmentation canpermanently destroy habitats and compromise ecosystem services (ES) that a watershed provides.This paper aims to establish associations between watershed landscape fragmentation and ES byintegrating science (satellite imageries and fragmentation analyses) and local geographicknowledge (key informant interviews and focus group discussions) at different time periods. Usingthe case of the Baroro River Watershed in Northern Philippines, this paper posits that localknowledge, when integrated with scientific knowledge, becomes a significant medium throughwhich watershed landscape fragmentation and declining quality of ES can be better understood andaddressed. Results also indicate that people’s experiences and knowledge on ES coincide withwatershed landscape fragmentation as evidenced by satellite images and fragmentation analysesdone at different time periods. This implies that people’s knowledge is well grounded on facts andcomplements scientific knowledge necessary in crafting more effective landscape policies that cantackle watershed fragmentation. Study results are also crucial in providing information to serve asinputs in the development of a more robust watershed management plan; particularly inimplementing sustainable land uses without sacrificing the watershed’s overall integrity.

A global scan of how the issue of nutrient loading and harmful algal blooms is being addressed by governments, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers

Abstract Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in aquatic ecosystems are of concern worldwide. This review deals with how jurisdictions around the world are addressing this water quality issue to inform recommendations regarding nutrient loading and HABs in Missisquoi Bay-Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog; transboundary lakes located in the USA and Canada that suffer from symptoms of eutrophication. A global scan of the literature resulted in the consideration of 12 case studies of large water bodies within large watersheds, excluding in-lake geoengineering approaches. Although all of the systems experience excessive nutrient loading, they vary in two key ways: sources of nutrients and manifestations of eutrophication ranging from HABs, to limited recreational uses, to the additional complexity of internal loadings and fish kills, up to drinking water shutdowns. The case studies were analyzed with respect to four categories of approaches, namely: (i) regulatory; (ii) incentive-based; (iii) risk mitigation; and (iv) outreach, engagement, and educational. We found that the management frameworks are based on integrated watershed management planning and national standards. National water quality standards, however, are not stringent enough to prevent HABs. Overall, identified case studies did not successfully remediate HABs, they simply managed them.

Ecological environment assessment based on land use simulation: A case study in the Heihe River Basin

Ecological environment assessment can not only provide significant references for effective solutions to regional ecological problems, but also promote the benign interaction of socio–economic–ecological development. This study selected the Heihe River Basin (HRB) as the typical area to comprehensively evaluate the ecological environment from 2010 to 2030 based on the dynamics of land system (DLS) model, which is coupled with the biological abundance index (BAI), vegetation coverage index (VCI), water density index (WDI), land degradation index (LDI), and eco-environment quality index (EQI). The results indicate that the BAI and VCI will be high in the south and east, low in the north and west in general. Under the future baseline scenario, the changes of biological abundance, vegetation coverage, and deteriorating land in the midstream and downstream regions will may seriously hinder restoration of the ecological environment. In particular, the BAI in the midstream and downstream regions will decline more rapidly, with a rate of 10.30% and 18.59%, respectively. The water area will be scattered and less abundant overall, but the WDI in the midstream, that is up to 3.86 in 2030, will be higher than that in other regions. Results also show that the regions with high EQI are mainly located in the northeast and south region. It is predicted that the ecological fragile zones in the future will mainly distribute in the midstream and downstream regions, especially in Jiayuguan City and Jinta County. The EQI will drop by 44.28% and 11.40% during 2010–2030 without external conditions intervened. In addition, Qilian Mountain, Jiuquan City, Gaotai County, Linze County, and Shandan County will also have relatively strong recovery capacities under the influence of ecological policies. All above could provide the basis for the development of future watershed ecological environment management and protection planning.

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Brantas watershed is determined as a national priority watershed to be managed. Brantas watershed is the most critical watershed with various complex problems compared to other 29 watersheds in Java. So that, it becomes a national problem which needs to be solved. This article aims to (a) evaluate Brantas watershed management system to find out its performance, which can be used as an input for watershed management policies and planning, (b) develop better and more efficient Brantas watershed management policy recommendations. The method used the Regulation of the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia No. P.61/Menhut-II/2014. The data used are secondary data obtained from Central Agency of Statistics, Brantas Watershed Management Center, Forestry Service, and Social Service. The results showed that Brantas watershed is in good condition, however, some important issues should be addressed, namely population density and the classification of high water building values. Some actions that need to be carried out by the Government, among others (1) finding out other alternative outside the agricultural sector to overcome the high population pressure, (2) necessary maintenance of the functions of recharge areas and water sources to reduce sedimentation in water building

Using Serious Games to Facilitate Collaborative Water Management Planning Under Climate Extremes

AbstractSustainable management is a complex process that involves balancing the competing interests of the human, plant, and animal communities that depend on watershed resources. It involves developing and implementing plans, programs, and projects that sustain and enhance watershed functions while taking into account the natural, social, political, economic, and institutional factors operating within the watershed and other relevant regions. Examples of such factors include crosscutting mandates by different levels of government, conflicting objectives across sectors, and the constraints and uncertainty of the availability and accessibility of the resources within the watershed. One way to address these complexities is with public participation processes designed to share knowledge among disciplinary experts, policy‐makers, and local stakeholders and provide outcomes, which inform the creation of sustainable watershed management plans. Serious games (i.e., games played for purposes other than pure entertainment) are an example of such processes. Here, we present a case study of how a serious game, called the multi‐hazard tournament, was used to facilitate watershed management by promoting social learning, cross‐sectoral dialogue, and stakeholder participation in the planning process.

Applying a Watershed and Reservoir Model in an Off-Site Reservoir to Establish an Effective Watershed Management Plan

Off-site reservoirs use water from other watersheds to supplement their water quantity. Water quality is usually better in off-site reservoirs than in onsite reservoirs, because in comparison to onsite reservoirs, watershed areas are smaller and fewer pollutants are collected; moreover, cleaner water is introduced. However, in Taiwan, the water quality of some off-site reservoirs can gradually worsen, and this factor needs to be addressed. In this study, the Liyutan reservoir in central Taiwan was used as an example to demonstrate the process of evaluating pollution in an off-site reservoir. Pollution loads from point sources (PSs) and nonpoint sources (NPSs) were carefully estimated. Domestic sewage and tourist wastewater were considered the major PS loads in this study. The NPS load evaluation was dependent on the results of a verified watershed model, the stormwater management model (SWMM). The observed data in 2015 and 2016 and supplementary total phosphorous (TP) samplings in upstream rivers in 2018 were used to validate the model results. Model calibration and verification were implemented during dry weather and wet weather to ensure the accuracy of the PS and NPS simulations. The results of this study showed that the average total phosphorous (TP) load generated from within the watershed was 9013 kg/y, and that the TP load from outside the watershed was 4545 kg/y. The percentages of TP loads from NPSs and PSs in the watershed were 83% and 17%, respectively. Finally, we used a verified Vollenweider model to convert the TP loads to the TP concentration in the reservoir. The pollution reduction measures and the associated predicted water quality values were assessed using the verified models.

Evaluating efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of best management practices in improving agricultural water quality using integrated SWAT and cost evaluation tool

Agricultural conservation practices, or agricultural best management practices (BMPs), can reduce nutrient loading and help address harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs in the western basin of Lake Erie, which are largely caused by phosphorus losses from the Maumee River watershed, are critical in the recent years. In this study, a new BMP cost tool was developed. Then the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the new BMP cost tool were integrated to explore efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of BMPs in an agricultural catchment of the Maumee River watershed with various scenarios. The scenarios included individual BMPs applied in 100% of suitable areas, individual BMPs targeting Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) and Total Phosphorus (TP) critical areas, and BMPs implemented in series. In addition, a cost-effective approach for the selections and placements of BMPs in agricultural watersheds was developed as an alternative to running complex optimization tools that are not applicable to large watersheds. The cost-effective approach applied BMPs based on cost-effectiveness rankings starting from the most cost-effective one. Results showed that: (1) BMPs implemented in series, which reduced pollutant loads more than individual BMPs, were not as cost-effective as some individual BMPs; (2) among all scenarios, filter strips targeting DRP/TP critical areas were the most cost-effective in reducing yearly/spring DRP/TP losses; (3) to obtain the watershed management plan goal of reducing March-July DRP/TP losses by 40%, implementing BMPs one by one in critical areas based on the cost-effectiveness rankings of individual BMPs in DRP/TP critical areas was the most cost-effective; and (4) the simulation results, modeling tools, and cost-effective approach can help create agricultural BMP strategies to cost-efficiently improve water quality.

Evolution and Application of Urban Watershed Management Planning

AbstractThe development of Watershed Management Plans (WMPs) in urban areas aids municipalities in allocating resources, engaging the public and stakeholders, addressing water quality regulations, and mitigating issues related to stormwater runoff and flooding. In this study, 124 urban WMPs across the United States were reviewed to characterize historic approaches and identify emerging trends in watershed planning. Planning methods and tools were qualitatively evaluated, followed by statistical analyses of a subset of 63 WMPs to identify relationships between planning factors. Plans developed by a municipality or consultant were associated with more occurrences of hydrologic modeling and site‐specific recommendations, and fewer occurrences of characterizing social watershed factors, than plans authored by agencies, organizations, or universities. WMPs in the past decade exhibited greater frequency in the use of pollutant load models and spatially explicit hydrologic and hydraulic models. Project prioritization was found to increasingly focus on feasibility to implement proposed strategies. More recent plans additionally exhibited greater consideration for water quality, ecological health, and public participation. Innovation in planning methods and consideration of future watershed conditions are primary areas that were found to be deficient in the study WMPs, although analysis methods and tools continue to improve in the wake of advancing technology and data availability.

Water Balance Estimation Using Integrated GIS-Based WetSpass Model in the Birki Watershed, Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

This study aims to estimate long-term average annual and seasonal water balance components for Birki watershed using WetSpass model with the integrated geospatial modeling approach with ten years’ hydro-meteorological and biophysical data of the watershed. Both primary and secondary data were collected using both field survey and disk-based data collection methods. The WetSpass model was used for data analysis purposes. The finding showed that in the summer season the annual groundwater recharge is 24.1 mm year-1 (96.5%), winter season mean groundwater recharge is 0.8 mm year-1 (3.5%) and yearly mean groundwater recharge is 24.9 mm year-1, Surface runoff yearly mean value is 40.6 mm year-1, Soil evaporation yearly mean value is 10.8 mm year-1, Evapotranspiration yearly mean value is 60.8 mm year-1, Intersection loss yearly mean value is 17 mm year-1, and Transpiration loss yearly value is 6.8 mm year-1 in the entire watershed. The mean annual precipitation, which is 573 mm, is contributed to 7.4%, 7.1% and 85.5% recharge to the groundwater, to surface runoff, and evapotranspiration, respectively. Annually 1.1205 million m3 water recharges into the groundwater table as recharge from the precipitation on the entire watershed. The contribution of this study could be used as baseline information for regional water resource experts, policy makers and researchers for further investigation. It can also be concluded that integrated WetSpass and GIS-based models are good indicators for estimating and understanding of water balance components in a given watershed to implement an integrated watershed management plan for sustainable utilization and sustainable development.

Tool for Searching USEPA’s TMDL Reports Repository to Analyze TMDL Modeling State of the Practice

AbstractTotal maximum daily load (TMDL) reports archived in the USEPA database can provide useful guidance for the development of new TMDLs and watershed management plans by aiding the selection pr...

A structural equation model to predict macroinvertebrate-based ecological status in catchments influenced by anthropogenic pressures

A Partial Least Squares-Path Model (PLS-PM) was developed for the Ave River Basin (North of Portugal), and the results used in a scenario analysis. The data for PLS-PM comprised a set of anthropogenic pressures, water quality parameters, and a macroinvertebrate-based biodiversity index (IPtIN) used to assess the ecological status of streams. These groups of measured parameters (called latent variables) were given the names “Pressures”, “Contamination” and “Ecological Integrity”. Besides, latent variables were connected through path coefficients representing potential causal effects among them. In a large portion of Ave the ecological status of streams is currently bad or poor. Nitrate and coliforms were the most weighted measured variables of latent variable “Contamination”, with w ≈ 0.7 and w ≈ 0.2, respectively. The highest “Pressures” weights were ascribed to livestock farming (0.7) and population density (0.4). The connections “Pressures”—“Contamination” and “Contamination” — “Ecological Integrity” exposed a sequence of direct negative effects between the three variables, expressed in the corresponding path coefficients (pc = 0.87 and pc = −1.11). Paradoxically, a direct negative effect of “Pressures” over “Ecological Integrity” was absent (pc = 0.29). Therefore, the poor ecological status of local stream waters might not be directly related to the presence of potentially threatening contaminant sources (the “Pressures”), but to ineffective monitoring of livestock farming and wastewater treatment activities that potentiate (accidental) releases of contaminants into the streams. The lack of a direct link “Pressures” — “Ecological Integrity” supported the results of pressure change versus IPtIN change scenarios. Regardless of some significant reductions of anthropogenic activity and population density until 2027, announced by the Portuguese Environmental Agency, the scenarios could not predict improvement of ecological status beyond the “moderate” category. The study recommendations were therefore to prevent contamination through proper implementation and monitoring of existing watershed management plans. The adequate treatment of domestic effluents and the control of livestock farming residues are urgent.

Evaluation of best management practices for sediment and nutrient loss control using SWAT model

The intensive study of an individual watershed is required to develop effective and efficient watershed management plans. Identification of critical erosion-prone areas of the watershed and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) is necessary to control the watershed degradation by reducing the sediment and nutrient losses. The present study evaluates and recommends the BMPs in an agriculture-based Marol watershed (5092 km2) of India, using a hydrologic model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). After successful calibration and validation, the model simulated daily/monthly discharge and sediment were found satisfactory throughout the simulation period. The model was then applied with a calibrated set of parameters for evaluating the effectiveness of various management practices for sediment and nutrient loss control. Keeping in mind the existing agricultural practices, socio-economic aspects and geography of the study area, the management practices were focused on four crops (Maize, Rice, Soybeans and Ground nut), three fertilization levels (high, medium and low), four tillage treatments (Field cultivator, Conservation tillage, Zero tillage and Mould board plough), and two conservation operations (Contour farming and Filter strips). The simulated annual average sediment yield from the watershed was found to be 12.2 t.ha−1yr−1. The water balance analysis revealed that, the evapo-transpiration is predominant over the watershed (approximately 46.3% of the annual average rainfall). Reduction in sediment yield and nutrient loss was observed with alternate cropping treatments of Groundnut and Soybean, as compared to Paddy and Maize cultivation. Overall, based on simulated results, the field cultivator tillage practice and conservation practices viz., contour farming and filter strips, could be adopted to reduce sediment yield and nutrient losses in the critical sub-watersheds of the study area and in other watersheds with similar hydro-climatic conditions.

Analysis of biogeophysics characteristics and discharge of Lompo Riaja Atas river and Lompo Riaja Bawah river, Ralla sub watershed

The biogeophysical characteristics of watersheds have an important role as a determinant of the river discharge amount in the watershed. Various watershed problems such as flood and drought related to river discharge require data and information. The importance of this data and information will determine a better watershed management plan. The issue of flooding and drought are the important issues in Ralla sub watershed, Souht Sulawesi Province. This study aims to describe the biogeophysical characteristics and the discharge of Lompo Riaja Atas and Lompo Riaja Bawah Rivers in Ralla sub watershed, Lisu Watershed. This research was conducted in from November 2016 to August 2017. Primary data collection was done through river discharge and precipitation measurements during 34 days of observation. Secondary data obtained from government or related agencies such as geological data obtained from Geological map of the Ujung Pandang sheet 1982, the slope data from Aster DEM, land type from RePPProt 1987, land cover data from google earth image 2015. A quantitative descriptive method was used to analyze the data obtained. The results showed that the Lompo Riaja Atas and Lompo Riaja Bawah rivers have relatively similar discharge fluctuation, although they have a different amount of discharge. River discharge of both rivers is more influenced by rainfall compared to biogeophysical conditions such as geology, topography, soil type, watershed area, watershed shape, river length and order, gradient, flow pattern, flow density, and land cover.

From agricultural catchment to management scenarios: A modular tool to assess effects of landscape features on water and pesticide behavior

Pesticide transfers and fate are highly influenced by the presence of discontinuities such as grass strips, slopes, hedgerows or roads that can accelerate or slow down and dissipate water and contaminant fluxes. That is why those landscape elements must be integrated into watershed management plans. It implies taking them into account when modeling water and contaminant fluxes at the small catchment scale. However, if the influence of landscape elements has already been widely explored at field scale, models generally do not reach the catchment scale. The project PESHMELBA aims at developing a new modeling tool of water and contaminants circulation and fate at the scale of small catchments in order to optimize landscape organization. The model explicitly takes into account spatial organization of landscape by representing existing elements, their locations and shapes. The final aim of this modeling tool is to efficiently test and rank different development scenarios in order to assess the influence of agricultural practices, land uses and landscape management strategies on water quality. In PESHMELBA, dominating processes ruling water and contaminants circulation and dissipation for each element type are mainly represented by existing and validated models. New components have also been developed when no suitable model was found in the literature. All these models present different levels of conceptualization and are used as modeling units ensuring a modular structure. Then, the different units are gathered and connected in the OpenPALM coupler (Fouilloux and Piacentini, 1999) in order to implement the spatial and temporal couplings. This innovative approach leads to a spatialized model of the whole catchment. Applications cases are tested with an increasing complexity, from a case with two plots to the hillslope scale with several plots, ditches and rivers. They show that PESHMELBA is a promising tool to compare scenarios considering water and pesticide fate in different complex landscapes.

Aquatic invasive species rapid response planning partnerships in the Lake Champlain basin: Bridging international, political, social, and economic gaps

The Lake Champlain Basin is threatened by several non-native invasive plant and animal species. The U.S. states of Vermont and New York, and the province of Quebec, Canada share the Lake Champlain watershed. The three jurisdictions work together to protect their water resources and implement Opportunities for Action, a long-term watershed management plan for the Basin. Together they recognise the need to control the introduction, spread, and impact of non-native invasive species in order to preserve the biological and ecological integrity of the Lake Champlain ecosystem independent of political borders. The Lake Champlain Basin Program Aquatic Nuisance Species Subcommittee is developing an invasive species rapid response action plan that addresses invasive species control and spread prevention in the Basin. A rapid response is an effort to contain and control non-native invasive species introductions while they are localised in a short amount of time, such as weeks or months, before they become established and more expensive to manage. Lake managers, policy makers, scientists, academics, and representa- tives of local watershed organisations from the three jurisdictions have shared information and data to foster the development of a comprehensive plan. Gaps in interstate and inter-jurisdictional laws and policy have been identified by reviewing all necessary permits for aquatic invasive species control methods. Examining the interface of law, policy, and permits aids in identifying regulatory and policy inadequacies, and opportunities for corrective legislation. Partnering among diverse organisations has allowed strategic invasive species rapid response planning that builds on managers' and policy makers' concerns, provides options, fosters inter-jurisdictional cooperation, and considers social, economic, and political impacts of invasive species man- agement. The rapid response planning process identifies lead agencies from each of the three jurisdictions, recommends the formation of one governing body, and includes detailed steps of a rapid response process. The goal of the rapid response plan is to foster dialogue among permit applicants, scientists, and regulatory agencies, to ensure the fastest action possible. The Lake Champlain Basin invasive species rapid response planning process provides an applicable model for the United Nations Educa- tional Scientific Organisation Hydrology for the Environment, Life, and Policy (HELP) basins around the world.

Restructuring Integrated Watershed Management Models for the Federal Democratic Regime of Nepal

Recent political envision has redesigned the administrative units of Nepal into federal states with the aim of decentralizing the power to ensure the process of rapid sustainable development. As a consequence, all the public service agencies need to restructure their delivery units for achieving goals targeted by the newly adopted administrative regime plan. With the aim of recommending the best watershed management models for this changing context, this paper aims to review existing watershed management models applied in different continents like European union, African union and the United States where they have already adopted this watershed management plans into their federal states or countries union successfully. Although they are geographically distinct and economically advanced, the major approach adopted is a river basin approach with the clear legislative framework. This approach is highly succeeded between interstate (or between member countries) because of political or interstate commitments for the common pool resource water. Clear policies and commitments between member countries or interstate greatly improved the function of this mechanism. With the light of those experiences in the field of watershed management plan adopted in federal or union countries, river based integrated management plan balancing efforts between interstates seems best models in the world, and is also proposed for the new federal republic of Nepal.