WATERSHEDS

Description:
Watersheds are a further hydrologic subdivisions of the Water Management Units. This data layer was developed as part of the Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed program. Watershed boundaries were drawn by WDNR staff on 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps and then digitized.

Item Descriptions:

WATERSHED CODE - The WDNR four character code used to uniquely identify each watershed. The first 2 characters identify the DNR Water Management Unit (WMU) to which the Watershed is assigned. The next 2 numbers uniquely identify the watershed within the Water Management Unit.

NAME - Official WDNR Watershed Name

PRIORITY WATERSHED STATUS CODE - Status of the Priority Watershed project, current as of 2002.

P - Planning

I - Implementation

C - Completed

NPS PRIORITY WATERSHED YEAR - The year in which the watershed was designated a Priority Watershed for inclusion in the Non-Point Source Water Pollution Abatement Program.

NPSRANK ALL - (see description below)

Low

Med

High

NPSRANK STREAM - (see description below)

Low

Med

High

NPSRANK LAKE - (see description below)

Low

Med

High

NPSRANK GROUNDWATER - (see description below)

Low

Med

High

Nonpoint Source Rankings:Nonpoint sources of pollution include eroding farmland, construction sites, runoff from urban streets, and barnyard wastes. As a result of the serious effects of nonpoint sources of pollution on both the health of the water and the health of the land, the watersheds in the basins have been ranked by the DNR to prioritize nonpoint source pollution abatement projects. The ranking identifies priority watershed areas where nonpoint sources of pollution exist and are a threat to water quality or habitat, and where the problem can be controlled or corrected through the use of best management practices.

DNR ranks waterbodies (streams, lakes) and groundwater for pollution from nonpoint sources as high, medium or low, where a high ranking indicates serious pollution. An overall rank for the watershed is based on the combined waterbody rankings in the watershed. Individual rankings for specific waterbodies may exist before the entire watershed can be ranked. The goal is to eventually rank every stream, lake, and watershed in the state.

WATERSHED CODE - The WDNR four character code used to uniquely identify each watershed. The first 2 characters identify the DNR Water Management Unit (WMU) to which the Watershed is assigned. The next 2 numbers uniquely identify the watershed within the Water Management Unit.

NAME - Official WDNR Watershed Name

PRIORITY WATERSHED STATUS CODE - Status of the Priority Watershed project, current as of 2002.
	P - Planning
	I - Implementation
	C - Completed

NPS PRIORITY WATERSHED YEAR - The year in which the watershed was designated a Priority Watershed for inclusion in the Non-Point Source Water Pollution Abatement Program.

NPSRANK ALL - (see description below)
	Low
	Med
	High
NPSRANK STREAM - (see description below)
	Low
	Med
	High
NPSRANK LAKE - (see description below)
	Low
	Med
	High
NPSRANK GROUNDWATER - (see description below)
	Low
	Med
	High

Nonpoint Source Rankings:Nonpoint sources of pollution include eroding farmland, construction sites, runoff from urban streets, and barnyard wastes. As a result of the serious effects of nonpoint sources of pollution on both the health of the water and the health of the land, the watersheds in the basins have been ranked by the DNR to prioritize nonpoint source pollution abatement projects. The ranking identifies priority watershed areas where nonpoint sources of pollution exist and are a threat to water quality or habitat, and where the problem can be controlled or corrected through the use of best management practices. DNR ranks waterbodies (streams, lakes) and groundwater for pollution from nonpoint sources as high, medium or low, where a high ranking indicates serious pollution. An overall rank for the watershed is based on the combined waterbody rankings in the watershed. Individual rankings for specific waterbodies may exist before the entire watershed can be ranked. The goal is to eventually rank every stream, lake, and watershed in the state.