Coastal America was established two years ago as a unique partnership among federal, state, and local governments and private alliances to collaboratively address site-specific coastal environmental problems. In those two years, more than 20 federal agencies and more than 100 non-federal partners have become involved in Coastal America projects around the U.S. coastline, restoring wetland habitat and fish passage and protecting critical areas for endangered species and other wildlife. To date, more than $30 million has been committed to Coastal America with over 60 projects in 20 States.

In keeping with the ongoing commitment of the Executive Office to ecosystem-based natural resource protection and management, Coastal America has developed this document on aquatic ecosystem protection and restoration through watershed-based resource management approaches. The underlying themes that Coastal America wishes to emphasize are two-fold: (1) aquatic ecosystems, which are intrinsically related to the hydrogeologic characteristics of watersheds, are most effectively addressed in a watershed context; and (2) truly comprehensive watershed approaches can only succeed with the collaboration and cooperation of the full range of parties with jurisdiction over, and interest in, the resources at stake.

Foreword

I. Toward a Watershed Approach: A Framework for Ecosystem Restoration, Protection, and Management

What is a Watershed?
Water: The Downhill Run
Vegetation and Soil: Moving Mountains

II. How Do We Affect Watersheds and Their Living Resources? Piercing It All Together: Portraits of Three Watersheds

The Merrimack River Watershed
The South Platte River Watershed
The San Francisco Bay Watershed

III. Back to Basins: Using Nature As Our Guide

State Initiatives
Non-Governmental Efforts
Federal Efforts

IV. Vision of the Future: A New Perspective

New Directions

V. A Model for Watershed-Based Aquatic Ecosystem Protection

The Chesapeake Bay Partnership

We're All Part of the Problem - We're All Part of the Solution