June 22, 2005, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, EDT (17:00-19:00 GMT)

Many communities in the U.S. are experiencing rapid growth and development, and a gradual decline in the quality of their aquatic resources. This webcast will highlight effective tools communities can apply to minimize the impact of land development on their streams, lakes and estuaries. It will begin by showing how impervious cover (IC) is used as a key index of watershed development. Next, current research will be reviewed on the strong relationship between IC and more than twenty indicators on aquatic quality. This emerging research provides the technical foundation for the Impervious Cover Model (ICM) which will be discussed at length. The remainder of the webcast will review the eight tools localities can apply to protect their subwatersheds-watershed planning, natural area conservation, buffers, better site design, erosion and sediment control, stormwater management practices, non-stormwater discharges and watershed stewardship. Emphasis is placed on the key watershed planning implications associated with the ICM model, and how the tools can be implemented at the local government level. The webcast will conclude with the famous Center for Watershed Protection quiz on watershed stewardship behaviors. Frequent opportunities will be provided throughout the webcast to discuss the technical and policy implications of the ICM and the eight-tool approach.

• Thomas R. Schueler, Director of Watershed Research and Practice, Center for Watershed Protection (trs@cwp.org)

• Susan Fagan, U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, & Watersheds (fagan.susan@epa.gov)

Press the "Go to Seminar" button to view the seminar. Please be at this location at the beginning of the conference call.

An archive of this seminar is available for download in Microsoft PowerPoint Format, Adobe Acrobat, and MP3 formats.