The WRAPS process is centered around four primary phases: Development, Assessment, Planning and Implementation.

• Phase 1 – Development: Stakeholder recruitment, determine interest, document stakeholder decisions.
• Phase 2 – Assessment: Review watershed conditions, trends, develop expectations of the watershed and management measures in use, and identify restoration and protection needs and watershed model.
• Phase 3 – Planning: Establish goals, identify actions to achieve goals, develop cost estimates, select strategy, and identify stakeholder implementation strategies.
• Phase 4 – Implementation: Secure resources needed to execute plan, monitor and document progress, revise plan as needed.

The four phases are suggested to be completed in chronological order. For example, in order to apply for grant funds for Implementation projects the previous 3 phases, Development, Assessment and Planning should be complete.