Task 4 focuses on the prioritization of concerns identified in the Watershed. This task was developed from the work products of Tasks 1-3, such as the identification of concerns, the designated uses, and the nonpoint source modeling. What is the best method for prioritizing concerns once they are identified? How do we direct implementation funds and management recommendations on a watershed scale?

We can analyze critical areas in a variety of ways:

• stations where pollutants of concern have been identified and the sources of those pollutants
• on various geographic scales, based on forms of available data;
  • county level
  • river valley segment level
  • subwatershed level
    • subwatershed scoring
    • nonpoint source model
• According to Steering Committee priorities. The Watershed Concerns have been prioritized by the Steering Commitee, acording to the importance of each concern and the ease of implementing BMP's to correct those concerns, in the following manner:
  • 1. Sediments (tie)
  • 1. Nutrients (tie)
  • 3. Habitat Loss
  • 4. Wetlands (tie)
  • 4. Animal Waste (tie)
  • 6. Pesticides (tie)
  • 6. Urbanization & Land Use (tie)
  • 8. Biota
  • 9. CSO's
  • 10. Pathogens (tie)
  • 10. Hydrologic Modification (tie)
  • 10. Litter (tie)
  • 13. Landfills