Online Training in Watershed Management

Watershed Ecology
Watershed Change
Analysis and Planning
Management Practices
Community and Social Practices
Water Law

Core Modules for Training Certificate

You can document your learning by meeting the requirements for Watershed Academy Web's Watershed Management Training Certificate. This certificate program recognizes trainees who complete the 15 core modules and pass their self-tests. The core modules are marked with an asterisk (*) in the topic sections below. See the Watershed Academy Certificate Program page for full details.

Watershed Ecology

This section shows that watersheds are natural systems that provide benefits to people and the environment when they are kept in good condition.

Modules

* Introduction to Watershed Ecology | Printable Version (PDF)(37 pp, 1.8 MB)
* Protecting Instream Flows: How Much Water Does a River Need? | Printable Version (PDF)(22 pp, 1.2 MB)
* Stream Corridor Structure | Printable Version (PDF)(34 pp, 8.0 MB)
Birds: Bellwethers of Watershed Health | Printable Version (PDF)(24 pp, 1.7 MB)
Wetland Functions and Values | Printable Version (PDF)(23 pp, 1.3 MB)

Resources & External Modules

Understanding Lake Ecology
Sustaining Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems

Watershed Change

This section describes both natural and human-induced changes in watersheds and compares normal changes with changes of concern.

Modules

NEW * Understanding Climate Changes Impacts on Water Resources, updated October 2024
Local Government Climate Adaptation Training Online Module
* Agents of Watershed Change | Printable Version (PDF)(49 pp, 3.2 MB)
Growth and Water Resources
NEW *Nutrient Pollution Module

Analysis and Planning

This section addresses how watershed planning, monitoring and assessment are important components of problem solving.

Modules

* Introduction to Watershed Planning | Printable Version (PDF)(46 pp, 2.5 MB)
* Overview of Watershed Monitoring | Printable Version (PDF)(33 pp, 4.3 MB)
Rapid Bioassessment Protocols | Printable Version (PDF)(34 pp, 2.1 MB)
Watershed Ecological Risk Assessment | Printable Version (PDF)(34 pp, 2.0 MB)
Watershed Modeling | Printable Version (PDF)(35 pp, 8.9 MB)
Fundamentals of Rosgen Stream Classification System
NEW Nonpoint Source Basic Training
NEW Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management

Resources & External Modules

Training in Use of the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and NHDPlus

Management Practices

This section shows how watershed management challenges such as urban runoff, cropland management, forestry and other issues are addressed by techniques that reduce environmental impacts.