Get practical, comprehensive information on watershed restoration techniques with the Center’s Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual series. Together, the USRM manuals introduce an integrated framework for urban watershed restoration, outline effective techniques for assessing urban watersheds, and provide a comprehensive review of watershed restoration techniques.
Manual 3: Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices Manual (T. Schueler, D. Hirschman, M. Novotney, J. Zielinski, 2007). Outlines the basics of retrofits, describes the 13 unique locations where they can be found, and presents rapid methods to find, design and deliver retrofits to meet a wide range of subwatershed objectives. The manual contains updated costs for retrofit practices, updated pollutant removal data for stormwater treatment options, a design point method to estimate individual retrofit removal rates, and practical tips to support the design, permitting and construction of retrofit projects. In short, the manual provides all the resources needed to develop an effective local retrofit program.
Manual 11: Unified Subwatershed and Site Reconnaissance: A User's Manual (T. Wright, C. Swann, K. Cappiella, T. Schueler, 2005). Examines pollution sources and restoration potential within upland areas of urban subwatersheds. The manual provides detailed guidance on how to perform each of its four components: the Neighborhood Source Assessment, Hotspot Site Investigation, Pervious Area Assessment and the analysis of Streets and Storm Drains. Together, these rapid surveys help identify upland restoration projects and source control to consider when devising subwatershed restoration plans.
Manual 10: Unified Stream Assessment: A User's Manual (A. Kitchell, T. Schueler, 2005). The Unified Stream Assessment, or USA, is a rapid technique to locate and evaluate problems and restoration opportunities within the urban stream corridor. It describes how to perform the USA, and interpret the data collected to determine the stream corridor restoration potential for your subwatershed.
Manual 8: Pollution Source Control Practices (T. Schueler, C. Swann, T. Wright, S. Sprinkle, 2005). This manual presents several methods to assess subwatershed pollution sources in order to develop and target education and/or enforcement efforts that can prevent or reduce polluting behaviors and operations. Manual 8 outlines more than 100 different "carrot" and "stick" options that can be used for this purpose. The manual also presents profile sheets that describe 21 specific stewardship practices for residential neighborhoods, and 15 pollution prevention techniques for control of storm water hotspots.
Manual 9: Municipal Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Practices (M. Novotney and R. Winer, 2008). This manual provides "how to" guidance, and outlines the Center's most recent ideas on how municipal pollution prevention/good housekeeping practices can be used to address local water quality issues and watershed restoration goals. The manual is intended primarily for use by smaller NPDES Phase II communities and other unregulated communities interested in protecting and restoring local water resources.
Manual 2: Methods to Develop Restoration Plans for Small Urban Watersheds (T. Schueler, A. Kitchell, 2005). Manual 2 contains detailed guidance on how to put together an effective plan to restore urban subwatersheds. The manual outlines a practical, step-by-step approach to develop, adopt and implement a subwatershed plan in your community. Within each step, the manual describes 32 different desktop analysis, field assessment, and stakeholder involvement methods used to make critical restoration management decisions.
Manual 4: Urban Stream Repair Practices (T. Schueler, K. Brown, 2004). This stream repair manual concentrates on practices used to enhance the appearance, stability, structure, or function of urban streams. Presents three broad approaches to urban stream repair - stream cleanups, simple repairs, and more sophisticated comprehensive repair applications. Outlines how to set appropriate restoration goals, how to choose the best combination of stream repair practices to meet the goals, and how to assess stream repair potential at the subwatershed level. Finally, the manual offers practical advice to help design, permit, construct and maintain stream repair practices in a series of more than 30 profile sheets.
Manual 1: An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds (T. Schueler, 2005). Introduces the basic concepts and techniques of urban watershed restoration, and sets forth the overall framework we use to evaluate subwatershed restoration potential. The manual emphasizes how past subwatershed alterations must be understood in order to set realistic expectations for future restoration. Presents a simple subwatershed classification system to define expected stream impacts and restoration potential. Defines seven broad groups of restoration practices, and describes where to look in the subwatershed to implement them. Presents a condensed summary of a planning approach to craft effective subwatershed restoration plans.
Quick Links to More Center for Watershed Protection Websites:
Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Training Partnership
Watershed Stewards Academy- Howard County Chapter
Watershed Forestry Resource Guide
Stormwater Manager’s Resource Center
Wetlands-At-Risk Protection Tool
Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center