Assessment
The goal of a WRAPS Assessment Project is to characterize watershed conditions, identify needs and opportunities, and understand how the watershed responds to various management scenarios.
The 6 Objectives of Assessment:
Providing Information & Education
Stakeholder education and involvement are important components of every WRAPS project, especially Assessment Projects which can involve highly technical information.
Key Methods: Hosting informational meetings/workshops, tours, demonstration projects, and developing printed materials (brochures). Regardless of the methods, it is important that stakeholders remain engaged in the process.
Establishing Assessment Criteria
Assessment criteria identify “ideal” watershed conditions and serve as an overall benchmark for setting goals and assessing progress.
Conducting Inventories
Assessing or inventorying the condition of water resources involves consideration of the designated or beneficial uses of water resources, such as drinking water supplies, recreation, irrigation, and aquatic life support.
- Impaired Waters: Resources that do not meet designated uses are subject to Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). These waters are considered in need of “Restoration.”
- Protection: Waters without TMDLs must be protected to ensure they continue to meet standards.
- Data Sources: The State maintains an extensive water quality monitoring network used to identify trends and potential threats.
Note: Assessing other natural resources may involve biological surveys by the Kansas Biological Survey, Kansas Dept of Wildlife & Parks, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identifying Needs & Opportunities
This step involves identifying gaps between “ideal” watershed conditions (criteria) and actual conditions.
- Needs: When ideal conditions are not met (e.g., TMDLs for surface water), restoration activities are required.
- Opportunities: When resources meet ideal conditions but need protective actions to prevent future degradation.
Developing Watershed Models
Models are used to estimate the impacts of watershed management actions. They describe or visualize complex systems that cannot be directly observed.
- Simple Models: Inexpensive and easy to use. Great for initial determinations based on comparing similar watersheds (e.g., similar soil, rainfall, and land cover).
- Complex Models (e.g., SWAT): Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Uses mathematical relationships to estimate runoff and pollutant concentrations. These require trained professionals and data verification but allow for scenario testing before implementation.
Why use models?
- To estimate conditions (flooding, water quality) where little data exists.
- To determine the most cost-effective combination of management actions.
- To predict future improvements or verify when water quality sampling is needed.
Preparing a Watershed Assessment Project Report
The final component is a written report that documents the entire process.
- Identifies public education and involvement efforts.
- Describes how criteria were used to assess conditions.
- Summarizes inventory information and methods.
- Identifies needs for restoration and opportunities for protection.
- Summarizes modeling/monitoring activities and results.
With conditions assessed and needs identified, it is time to develop the specific goals and actions to restore the watershed.