Use Restoration Watershed (URW) Program

 What is a watershed?

Land area where all precipitation (rain, snow, etc.) and surface and ground water all flow/move to same downslope location (lake, river, marsh, ocean). Water collection area

Additional Watershed Definitions/Resources

• EPA (What is a watershed)
• Conservation Technology Information Center
• USGS - Water Science for Schools

URW - Brief Description

North Carolina's waters from the mountains to the coast are valued for the many uses they provide to our citizens and visitors such as drinking water supplies, commercial and recreational fisheries, aquatic life habitat and recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, many of the state's waters are impaired or unable to support these uses. There are hundreds of miles and acres of impaired waters in North Carolina. Increasing population and associated greater demand on the state's natural resources are contributing to the addition of waters to the list. The NC Division of Water Quality has established the Use Restoration Waters Program to restore the beneficial uses of impaired waters statewide. The URW Program will carry out this mission through the following three goals: 1) prioritizing waters for restoration, 2) promoting and supporting restoration initiatives, and 3) improving documentation of restoration efforts.

Successes and Improvements

To learn more about successfully restored and improved watersheds click here.

Watershed Plan Development Guidance Document 

URW Contact

Paul Clark, URW Coordinator
NCDENR-DWQ, Planning Section, Basinwide Planning Unit
paul.clark@ncmail.net
(919) 807-6443