WATERSHED PARTNERSHIPS: INCLUDING THE WATERSHED COMMUNITY TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Philadelphia Water Department's Office of Watersheds is working to achieve viable and measurable improvements to the region's waterways by implementing planning and management strategies that foster good science, public involvement and fiscal responsibility. Our goal is to meet regulatory requirements while enhancing the health and aesthetics of our environment. The Office of Watersheds has been charged with the mission of integrating traditionally separate tasked programs, including Philadelphia's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) program, the Stormwater Management Program, and its Source Water Protection Program, to maximize the resources allocated to these programs and to ensure the comprehensive achievement of each of their goals. To achieve its mission, the Office of Watersheds has initiated a number of projects to date. The focus of this paper is on the department sponsored Darby-Cobbs Watershed Partnership.