Watershed Condition Classification Technical

Course Description:

The intent of this reference material is to provide effective guidelines and address the lack of tracking watershed condition class which has a history of being quite vague, open to varied interpretation, and insufficient to consistently evaluate watershed condition or track how condition changes over time. To address these issues, the Forest Service formed the National Watershed Condition Team and tasked it with developing a nationally consistent, science-based approach to classify the condition of all National Forest System (NFS) watersheds and to develop outcome-based performance measures for watershed restoration. The team evaluated alternative approaches for classifying watersheds (USDA Forest Service 2007) and developed the watershed condition classification (WCC) system described in this technical guide.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the systematic process for determining watershed condition class
• Understand the forest service reporting and tracking of watershed condition
• Know the effectiveness of the forest service to maintain and restore the productivity