Multi-Objective Management and Planning for Urban Watersheds

Cumulative impacts and losses occur in watersheds as humans develop them. Cumulative losses to the environment occur, and cumulative impacts occur to constituents in the downstream part of the watersheds in terms of flood hazards. The paper reviews how multi-objective management is fundamental to urban watershed management and can address cumulative effects from development. The paper encourages the use of incentives and established processes to address the cumulative effects, specifically both the basic technical and organizational processes for developing urban watershed planning. Technical processes for watershed environmental planning are introduced for comparing green solutions, including best management practices and stream corridor rehabilitation. The paper demonstrates how habitat units may be used to maximize the net benefits for multipurpose projects. The basic steps for these processes clarify watershed planning work and strengthen collaboration, which is part of building strong partnerships in our Nation's watersheds.