Watershed and storm water management, also known as water resource management or total water quality management, is an approach to water quality improvements that focuses on the broad watershed level rather than individual water resources, such as river segments or wetlands. A watershed is a region that shares a common outlet for water drainage. Originally spurred by Vice President Al Gore's 1998 Clean Water Action Plan, it is driven by the Clean Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Coastal Zone Management Act, and Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000. Watershed and storm water management encompasses areas such as water quality and source water protection standards.

Chesapeake Bay Program

USAEC's role in promoting environmental compliance and partnership for the Army in the area of Chesapeake Bay program includes:
- Working with the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-9 and the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to develop compliance strategies;
- USAEC centrally manages the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Total Suspended Solids (TSS)) removal efforts for IMCOM;
- USAEC meets with regulatory agencies on TMDL permit requirements;
- USAEC has submitted funded request and coordinated projects to build Best Management Practices; and
- USAEC provides technical oversight on annual and semi-annual reporting of efforts to meet the TMDL requirements.
- USAEC participates in multiple partnerships within the DoD Chesapeake Bay program.

Community of Practice

USAEC's role in promoting the Community of Practice (CoP) includes:
- Quarterly meetings to share regulatory changes, New Army guidance/policy, & sharing of lessoned learned/best practices;
- Provide a forum to ask compliance questions;
- Share information on new technologies;
- USAEC sends out proposed regulatory changes and provides members an opportunity to comment on potential impacts; and
- Provides a forum to ask questions or for official guidance on newly promulgated regulations.

What has the Army done?

The Army prepares and revises watershed management/protection plans and organizes all activities that may affect water quality within a watershed planning unit in a manner that complies with plans and policies. Any construction or earth-moving operations are evaluated to ensure observance of appropriate federal, state, or local requirements for soil erosion control. Installations take action to reduce natural soil erosion, which protects the quality of nearby waterways.

USAEC's role in promoting environmental compliance for the Army in the area of watershed and storm water management includes:

- Reviewing all CWA and SDWA rulemakings;
- Preparing Army impact analyses and comments on potential rulemakings;
- Preparing guidance documents, including pollution prevention options;
- Developing tools to assist installations in complying with CWA and SDWA requirements including step-by-step procedures, protocols, worksheets, answers to commonly asked questions, and additional resources;
- Supporting the goal of eliminating negative impacts of Army installations on the watersheds in which they are located, by advising wise program management decisions, necessary infrastructure improvement, and efficient operational and maintenance procedures;
- Working with the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 and the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to develop compliance strategies;
- Tracking the Army's progress on meeting DoD and Army environmental goals;
- Supporting installations when requested;
- Maintaining contact with the EPA to stay abreast of current and future initiatives;
- Along with DCS, G-9, representing the Army on DoD committees; and
- Hosting discussion groups within the Army to exchange lessons learned and share information.

Why is this important?

Carefully managing watersheds and stormwater helps to protect drinking water sources, ensure healthy habitats for plants and animals, enhance flood and erosion control, provide recreational opportunities, and reduce vulnerability to natural disasters. Tacking updates to the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act helps the Army be prepared for necessary infrastructure improvements, increase efficient operation and maintenance procedures, and influence program management decisions.

watershed & storm water management

What has the Army done?

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