Watershed management represents a collective effort to organize—on behalf of interested stakeholders, concerned area citizens, and relevant public agencies—initiatives that would improve the conditions and related management regime of the water and natural resources within the watershed. Doing so would produce the necessary ecosystem goods and services on a sustainable basis, which could improve human well-being. Therefore, at the core of successful watershed management is the active participation of the different stakeholders.
Integrated watershed management (IWM) is the process of managing human activities and natural resources in a watershed. This approach allows watershed managers to protect important water resources while addressing critical issues such as the current and future impacts of rapid growth and climate change.
