16 USC § 6543 - Watershed Condition Framework

# § 6543. Watershed Condition Framework

**(a)** **In general** The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), may establish and maintain a Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land—

**(1)** to evaluate and classify the condition of watersheds, taking into consideration—

**(A)** water quality and quantity;

**(B)** aquatic habitat and biota;

**(C)** riparian and wetland vegetation;

**(D)** the presence of roads and trails;

**(E)** soil type and condition;

**(F)** groundwater-dependent ecosystems;

**(G)** relevant terrestrial indicators, such as fire regime, risk of catastrophic fire, forest and rangeland vegetation, invasive species, and insects and disease; and

**(H)** other significant factors, as determined by the Secretary;

**(2)** to identify for protection and restoration up to 5 priority watersheds in each National Forest, and up to 2 priority watersheds in each national grassland, taking into consideration the impact of the condition of the watershed condition on—

**(A)** wildfire behavior;

**(B)** flood risk;

**(C)** fish and wildlife;

**(D)** drinking water supplies;

**(E)** irrigation water supplies;

**(F)** forest-dependent communities; and

**(G)** other significant impacts, as determined by the Secretary;

**(3)** to develop a watershed protection and restoration action plan for each priority watershed that—

**(A)** takes into account existing restoration activities being implemented in the watershed; and

**(B)** includes, at a minimum—

**(i)** the major stressors responsible for the impaired condition of the watershed;

**(ii)** a set of essential projects that, once completed, will address the identified stressors and improve watershed conditions;

**(iii)** a proposed implementation schedule;

**(iv)** potential partners and funding sources; and

**(v)** a monitoring and evaluation program;

**(4)** to prioritize protection and restoration activities for each watershed restoration action plan;

**(5)** to implement each watershed protection and restoration action plan; and

**(6)** to monitor the effectiveness of protection and restoration actions and indicators of watershed health.

**(b)** **Coordination** In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

**(1)** coordinate with interested non-Federal landowners and State, Tribal, and local governments within the relevant watershed; and

**(2)** provide for an active and ongoing public engagement process.

**(c)** **Emergency designation** Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (a), the Secretary may identify a watershed as a priority for rehabilitation in the Watershed Condition Framework without using the process described in that subsection if a Forest Supervisor determines that—

**(1)** a wildfire has significantly diminished the condition of the watershed; and

**(2)** the emergency stabilization activities of the Burned Area Emergency Response Team are insufficient to return the watershed to proper function.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 108–148, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8405(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4843.)