Metro Sub-Watershed Analysis (SWA)

Ensuring natural resource practitioners are applying state-of-the-art approaches is the best way to achieve optimum Best Management Practice (BMP) selection, design, and placement in the landscape, thereby maximizing Clean Water Fund (CWF) benefits. To that end, it is critical to train new staff, create modeling protocols for new BMPs, refine and calibrate models, and test ever-advancing modeling applications. The Metro Conservation District's (MCD) Sub-Watershed Analysis (SWA) program provides these capacity-building services and united efforts across 11 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

The SWA program has had quantifiable impact on water quality improvement efforts. During the first 36 months of funding, this process resulted in 63 analyses completed or underway and identified over 4,000 site-specific BMPs. Many CWF project grant applications are the result of SWAs propelling cost-effective projects onto local priority lists.

MCD will analyze an additional 22 subwatersheds that contribute to the degradation of locally-identified high priority water resources. The analyses will identify the location and estimated cost/benefit relationship for BMPs, evolve with new technology, and share discoveries metro-wide.