Basin assessment and watershed analysis

Abstract

Basin assessment is an important component of the President's Forest Plan, yet it has received little attention. Basin assessments are intended both to guide watershed analyses by specifying types of issues and interactions that need to be understood, and, eventually, to integrate the results of watershed analyses occurring within a river basin. Problems facing basin assessment efforts include the lack of agency interest in the process, achieving interdisciplinary analysis, assembling a functioning team, reconciling the needs of different agencies, the perceived complexity of the problem, ensuring a credible result, and soliciting public participation. These problems are shared by watershed analysis efforts, and observations of the watershed analysis process indicate ways that each might be addressed. However, basin assessment may itself serve as the solution to several of these problems for watershed analysis.

Citation

Reid, Leslie M.; Ziemer, Robert R. 1994. Basin assessment and watershed analysis. Issues in watershed analysis. Discussions at interdisciplinary and interagency workshops held at the Humboldt Interagency Watershed Analysis Center in McKinleyville, California. 16 p.