Does wetland and watershed management require detailed, upfront analysis of functions and values of all wetlands?
A. No. Local government-wide wetland and watershed protection efforts to date have been based upon overall, general assessment of wetland functions and values, natural hazards, soil suitability for development, costs of public services, and other factors. More detailed analysis of the functions and values of specific wetlands is typically undertaken by local governments only if fills or drainage are proposed for specific wetlands and such activities are conditionally permitted under regulations. Q. Can Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hydrologic models facilitate wetland and watershed management? A. Possibly. More government agencies, consultants, and others are using GIS and computer-based hydrologic models to assist the analysis of water regimes, the mapping of wetlands (where digital data is available), the assessment of the functions and values of wetlands, and the design of projects including assessment of alternative designs. Such systems are proving useful as more digita
