National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Water Quantity

TreesConservation and management of water quantities is key to maintaining a sufficient supply for multiple uses. Whether managing floods in times of excess, or mitigating the effects of drought in times of shortage, water management is an important component of local water conservation.


Drought
Drought happens, and when it does, it affects agriculture, the environment—including endangered species, water quality and soil erosion/degradation—recreation, tourism, wildfire season, water supply and energy. For these reasons, drought preparedness is a national priority. Local conservation districts and NACD continue to play a key role in the national attempt to mitigate the far-reaching impacts of drought.

Conservation is a vital part of protecting the nation from the devastating effects of drought. Good conservation practices are a form of insurance against weather extremes like drought by reducing soil erosion, maintaining soil moisture and improving water conservation. On the local level, conservation districts work with landowners, showing the country a way of living on the land that conserves and protects our soil, water and other natural resources. On a national level, NACD, works to integrate drought planning into national efforts and has recommended the formation of a National Drought Council.

NACD has also worked with the National Drought Mitigation Center on local efforts to report and monitor drought. To view the Center’s presentation at NACD’s 2008 Annual meeting, see the resources section below. NACD also works with the Bureau of Reclamation, the primary federal agency that oversees water availability in Western states through management of dams and reservoirs.

Stormwater
Control and management of stormwater is an integral part of resource management systems in developed and developing areas. Carrying out an effective stormwater management system requires the involvement and cooperation of all levels of government.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program, authorized by Congress under the Clean Water Act, is a comprehensive two-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of stormwater discharges. Implemented by states in most cases, the program uses the NPDES permitting mechanism to control harmful pollutants from being washed by stormwater runoff into local water bodies. Phase I of the program addressed sources of stormwater runoff that had the greatest potential to negatively impact water quality. These sources include medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) located in incorporated places or counties with populations of 100,000 or more, and 11 categories of industrial activity, which includes construction that disturbs five or more acres of land. Phase II requires NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges from certain regulated small MS4s, and construction activity disturbing between one and five acres of land.

Small Watershed Dams
Small watershed dam structures (P.L. 566/534) were created starting in the 1940s and 50s to provide many benefits for local communities. The structures were built by USDA with local conservation districts often serving as sponsors. The small watershed dams create reservoirs of water that mitigate against drought and flooding. Reservoirs can be utilized for a constant source of water as well as for recreational opportunities and aesthetics. The structures also retain and regulate floodwater, preventing impact to those downstream. Many of these structures are approaching the end of their engineered lifespan, so maintenance and rehabilitation are key areas of focus.


Recent Water Quantity Activity

Resources
Urban and Community Stormwater Management Resources - Conservation districts are working to meet the natural resource needs of landowners with changing land-uses. Urban and community stormwater management a key area for conservation districts.

Risk Management Beyond Boundaries Presentation (5.63MB) - Meghan Sittler, the Research and Outreach Specialist for the National Drought Mitigation Center gave a presentation on drought risk management at a NACD 2008 Annual Meeting general session. | PPT |

Drought Impact Reporter (external link) - This tool was developed by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC). Based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NDMC provides information and services to help the public better manage resources to prepare for drought.


Partners
Bureau of Reclamation
The Bureau of Reclamation is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior and operates water management facilities throughout the West and Great Plains. This involves the construction and management of over 600 dams and reservoirs which provide hydroelectric power, drinking water for homes, and irrigation for farmers.

Bridging the Headgate
Many agencies and organizations participate with NACD in the Bridging the Headgate partnership to address a variety of on and off-farm water management issues. The partnership seeks to leverage technical resources from existing federal, state and local water resource programs by working cooperatively across agencies and organizations.  Partners include agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and organizations including the National Association of State Conservation Agencies, the National Water Resources Association, the Western States Water Council and the Irrigation Association.

National Watershed Coalition
Management on a watershed scale allows land managers to take a holistic view of natural resource conservation. The National Watershed Coalition is an NACD partner that advocates total resource management principles. The NWC also works to ensure proper management and rehabilitation of the nation’s 11,000 PL 566/534 watershed dams.