Watershed Planning

The Watershed Planning Process

Watershed plans are a means to resolve and prevent water quality problems that result from both point source and nonpoint source problems. They are intended both to provide an analytic framework to restore water quality in impaired waters and to protect water quality in other waters adversely affected or threatened by point source and nonpoint source pollution. The EPA's Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans (2008) is used as a guide to develop locally-based watershed plans.

Steps in the Watershed Planning Process:

Build partnerships
Characterize the watershed
Finalize goals and identify solutions
Design an implementation program
Implement the watershed plan
Measure progress and make adjustments

The plans linked to the right are watershed plans that currently exist in Venango County. A majority of the plans were funded by federal, state, or local grants, with some receiving support from the Venango Conservation District.

ALLEGHENY RIVER

Allegheny River Conservation Plan (2005)

FRENCH CREEK

French Creek Watershed Conservation Plan (2024)

BULLION RUN

Bullion Run Conservation Plan (2020)

Williams run

Williams Run Watershed Assessment (2007)

pithole creek

Pithole Creek Watershed Assessment (2020)

South sandy creek

South Sandy Creek Watershed Assessment/Restoration Plan (2009)

blacks creek

Blacks Creek Restoration Plan (2007)
Blacks Creek Watershed TMDL (2004)

scrubgrass creek

Scrubgrass Creek Rivers Conservation Plan (2001)
Scrubgrass Creek Watershed TMDL (2008)
Scrubgrass Creek Operation Scarlift Report (1973)

slippery rock creek

Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Conservation Plan (2011)

LITTLE SCRUBGRASS CREEK

Little Scrubgrass Creek Watershed TMDL (2007)

Restore and Protect

Every two years, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) produces an Integrated Water Quality report which evaluates the water quality standards of over 85,000 miles of streams and 105,000 acres of lakes in Pennsylvania.

Impaired Waters

Special Protection Waters

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) surveys surface waters to determine if they are not attaining their protected uses. Protected uses include aquatic life, fish consumption, recreation, and potable water supply. Assessment determinations fall into three general statuses: attaining, impaired, or unassessed. If there are present factors affecting a protected use of a stream, then it is listed as "impaired." Integrated Water Quality Reports are published by the DEP every two years which outline the status of our surface waters.

Impairment sources can include acid mine drainage, agriculture, urban runoff, habitat modification, unknown sources, among others. Impairment causes can include siltation, pathogens, metals, mercury, pH, nutrients, among others.

DEP's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program, implements Section 303(d) of the CWA which requires states to establish a TMDL for all pollutants identified as preventing attainment of water quality standards. TMDLs set the maximum amount of a pollutant, the pollutant load, that can be delivered to a waterbody without exceeding water quality standards. TMDLs also allocate the allowable pollutant load among the various sources in the watershed (e.g., point sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, and nonpoint sources, such as agriculture and mine drainage).

Resulting from the Clean Water Act of 1972, states have developed their own water quality standards. Pennsylvania's Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards classify surface waters into different protected uses such as aquatic life, water supply, recreation and fish consumption, navigation, and special protection.

Special protection waters are classified as either Exceptional Value (EV) or High Quality (HQ). To be classified as EV or HQ, the water body must meet certain levels of several water quality parameters (at least 99% of the time), measured over the course of one year. These parameters include dissolved oxygen, aluminum, iron, pH, among others. Fish and aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition are also considered. Other qualifiers can automatically deem a water body as either EV or HQ. For example, a Class A Wild Trout Stream designation qualifies the stream as HQ, while a Wildnerness Trout Stream designation qualifies the stream as EV.

Several grant programs place emphasis on funding projects within EV and HQ watersheds. These designations also prevent radioactive or hazardous waste facilities from being located within these watersheds. Despite having some additional restrictions that other watersheds might not have, activities that occur before an EV or HQ designation are not affected. In addition, most farming and road maintenance practices do not need to be altered because of these designations.

Please note: The data reflected in these maps is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most up-to-date information. The maps are to provide spatial representation of water quality data gathered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and do not take precedence over the Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards outlined in the Pennsylvania Code. To confirm a stream designation, please contact our office or visit eMapPA.