National Watershed Research Network

Connecting communities with the resources, tools, and training to meet clean water goals

Communities across the country are working hard to meet clean water goals. Municipalities, nonprofits, and other organizations need answers to a growing set of research questions about the causes of watershed impacts and effective solutions to address them. Lack of information, funding, time, and staff resources often contribute to delayed or no progress on advancing the translation of research to measurable action within these communities.

That’s where the National Watershed Research Network comes in.

This collaborative helps communities achieve clean water and healthy watersheds by funding applied research on topics determined by its members. Together, we aim to provide insights into the impacts of land use activities on water resources, and identify regulations, programs, and practices that can best prevent or mitigate these impacts and address community needs.

Click here to read a fact sheet about the Network.

National Watershed Research Network Goals:

Influence a national agenda on applied watershed research priorities and information needs
Provide a forum for watershed practitioners, regulators, and researchers to collaborate on and refine research priorities and learn from each other
Use a pooled funding approach to implement defined priorities
Regularly synthesize existing watershed research, information, and practitioner knowledge to provide a national perspective that informs the creation of practical guidance and tools
Make the results nationally accessible online and through training opportunities

National Watershed Research Network Structure Overview

The Network’s Steering Committee provides oversight, sets priorities, and helps to leverage funding and partnerships. The Center for Watershed Protection is the Network lead and is nationally recognized for its expertise in watershed and stormwater management, as well as its skill in translating science into practical guidance.

Why Join the National Watershed Research Network?

As a National Watershed Research Network member, you will:

Receive products that save you time and money by translating science to concrete actions
Support research that benefits all communities
Influence a national agenda on watershed research and information needs
Provide ideas and direction for study designs, case studies, and research products
Leverage funds by participating as a case study community
Engage with the Center for Watershed Protection and Network members to share information and insights, partner on proposals, and find resources that address your community’s needs
Gain premiere access to Network products, including trainings that offer Continuing Education Units
Access a national clearinghouse of watershed information

Click here to join today!

National Watershed Research Network Topics

The broad topics addressed by the National Watershed Research Network include understanding the impacts of urban and rural land use activities on water resources, and identifying regulations, programs and practices that can best prevent or mitigate these impacts. The examples listed below are a general overview of the topics the Network may engage with and is not a comprehensive list.

Understanding impact and finding solution graphic

Watershed Information and Training Hub

A long-term goal of the National Watershed Research Network is to create a robust, online Watershed Information and Training Hub to serve as a national clearinghouse of watershed research and information, as well as a hub for technical training.

Sample First-Year Projects

Need	Research Question	Products
Communities are investing millions in green infrastructure. They need to know if these projects are working as intended and how to best protect this investment.	Compile and analyze data from a variety of sources to assess the following questions: How long do green infrastructure projects last? Are they being properly maintained? Are they being installed properly? What are the installation and maintenance costs? What is their effectiveness to remove pollutants, reduce flooding, and provide other benefits? How do the above vary by region?	Deliverables: White paperImpact: Informs municipal regulations, policies, procedures, and budgeting regarding green infrastructure construction and maintenance
National guidance on illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) programs is nearly 20 years old. In this time, new methods and approaches have been tested and applied but there is no way for regulated communities to easily learn from other communities’ programs.	Conduct a national survey of IDDE programs and gray literature to learn: What methods are currently required by communities’ permits/regulations? What new methods have been applied in the last 20 years? How cost-effective are different options? How can a manager choose the best options for their water/sewer-shed condition? Are there unique methods available for different regions or climates?	Deliverables: Case studies and StoryMap highlighting existing IDDE programs and approaches; Summary of survey resultsImpact: Facilitates sharing of lessons learned, knowledge and tools across MS4 communities
State assessments of the use attainment status of their waters are completed every two years and provide a wealth of information on impairments and their causes and sources. Yet no one is compiling this data at a national or regional scale to evaluate the status and trends, or to assess if the Clean Water Act is effectively being applied to protect and restore our waters.	Compile, review, and analyze state Integrated Report data, water quality standards, and other geospatial data to assess questions such as: Which waterways are fishable, swimmable and drinkable? Are there any trends in the number of impaired waters identified over time? What are the most common impairments and their causes and sources? Do these impairments correlate with any specific local characteristics? Do TMDL and antidegradation requirements appear to be effective based on approval of permits in these watersheds? Which waters need further assessment? Which streams are good candidates for enhanced protection? Do impaired waters areas disproportionally overlap with underserved communities?	Deliverables: StoryMap and a report with results for one region of the U.S.Impact: Informs changes to federal, state and local policies; Facilitates targeting and prioritization of local assessment, protection, restoration and enforcement activities

Need

Research Question

Products

Communities are investing millions in green infrastructure. They need to know if these projects are working as intended and how to best protect this investment.

Compile and analyze data from a variety of sources to assess the following questions:

How long do green infrastructure projects last?
Are they being properly maintained?
Are they being installed properly?
What are the installation and maintenance costs?
What is their effectiveness to remove pollutants, reduce flooding, and provide other benefits?
How do the above vary by region?

Deliverables:
White paperImpact:
Informs municipal regulations, policies, procedures, and budgeting regarding green infrastructure construction and maintenance

National guidance on illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) programs is nearly 20 years old. In this time, new methods and approaches have been tested and applied but there is no way for regulated communities to easily learn from other communities’ programs.

Conduct a national survey of IDDE programs and gray literature to learn:

What methods are currently required by communities’ permits/regulations?
What new methods have been applied in the last 20 years?
How cost-effective are different options?
How can a manager choose the best options for their water/sewer-shed condition?
Are there unique methods available for different regions or climates?

Deliverables:
Case studies and StoryMap highlighting existing IDDE programs and approaches; Summary of survey resultsImpact:
Facilitates sharing of lessons learned, knowledge and tools across MS4 communities

State assessments of the use attainment status of their waters are completed every two years and provide a wealth of information on impairments and their causes and sources. Yet no one is compiling this data at a national or regional scale to evaluate the status and trends, or to assess if the Clean Water Act is effectively being applied to protect and restore our waters.

Compile, review, and analyze state Integrated Report data, water quality standards, and other geospatial data to assess questions such as:

Which waterways are fishable, swimmable and drinkable?
Are there any trends in the number of impaired waters identified over time?
What are the most common impairments and their causes and sources?
Do these impairments correlate with any specific local characteristics?
Do TMDL and antidegradation requirements appear to be effective based on approval of permits in these watersheds?
Which waters need further assessment?
Which streams are good candidates for enhanced protection?
Do impaired waters areas disproportionally overlap with underserved communities?

Deliverables:
StoryMap and a report with results for one region of the U.S.Impact:
Informs changes to federal, state and local policies; Facilitates targeting and prioritization of local assessment, protection, restoration and enforcement activities

Potential Questions to Address with Future Projects

Does new research alter our understanding of the Impervious Cover Model, and what improvements in stream condition and function can we expect after restoration in watersheds of varying urbanization levels?
How effective are outreach programs to encourage homeowner Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation, and what techniques are most effective?
How have communities successfully protected their water resources through land use planning and sustainable development?
What are the economic benefits of forest conservation to sustain drinking water quality?
How do stormwater regulations differ across states, and what minimum criteria are common across the U.S.?
What approaches are communities using to address non-traditional pollutants, such as chlorides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)?
How can we use geospatial analysis technology to identify priority agricultural parcels for conservation and restoration?

How to Join the National Watershed Research Network

National Watershed Research Network members pay an annual membership fee that supports the Network administration, convening members to develop priorities around a set of overarching topics, synthesizing existing science, communicating results, and supporting the development of resources and trainings. A separate request-for-funding approach will be used to secure funding for research projects identified as priorities by the Network.

National Watershed Research Network Annual Member Fees

Type of Member	Description	Annual Fee*
Local Government Agency	Fee based on population served	$0.05/person
State Government Agency		$10,000
University; Tribal or Regional Government Agency		$500
Nonprofit Organization	Annual budget less than $5 million	$500
Nonprofit Organization	Annual budget $5 million to $10 million	$5,000
Nonprofit Organization	Annual budget greater than $10 million	$10,000
Consultant	Annual budget less than $5 million	$1,000
Consultant	Annual budget $5 million to $10 million	$10,000
Consultant	Annual budget greater than $10 million	$20,000

*Membership in the Network is considered a new Center for Watershed Protection Association (CWPA) membership level.

Deadline to join: July 31; if you can’t make this deadline but would like to join, please contact Karen Titus at kmt@cwp.org or 410-696-3973.

Click here to secure your membership today!

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