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What Is a Watershed and Why is Watershed Planning Important?
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains surface water and groundwater into a river or stream. Prince Edward Island has more than 250 watersheds. These provide drinking water for the province, as well as water for agricultural and commercial needs. All Islanders have a collective stake in the health of Island watersheds because these areas are impacted by, and in turn influence, many human activities.
Watersheds are nature's boundaries. Managing PEI’s resources on a watershed basis is the best way to protect and enhance water quality. Watersheds need to be managed in a ‘holistic’ way. That is, management must address both the symptoms and the sources of environmental problems. Watershed planning allows residents, landowners, and others having an interest in the future of a watershed to make the best decisions on managing the watershed for future generations.
Why is Watershed Planning Important?
- Everything is connected. Natural resources can be better managed if watersheds are viewed as an entire unit. In many cases, water quality and quantity in community located on an estuary or on the lower part of a stream is affected by activities ‘upstream’ or outside the community.
- Watershed planning is a grass-roots activity; it involves everyone that has a stake in the watershed. Planning involves local people and businesses. It allows them to determine the issues that are important, and the best way to manage the resources in their watershed.
- A watershed plan provides a clear path forward for managing the natural resources in a watershed. Watershed plans are open, transparent documents and available to everyone.
