Abstract
In an effort to adopt more holistic ecosystem approaches to resource
assessment and management, many state and federal agencies have begun
using watershed or ecoregion frameworks. Although few would question
the need to make this move from dealing with problems and issues
on a case by case or point-type basis to broader regional contexts,
misunderstanding of each of the frameworks has resulted in inconsistency
in their use and ultimate effectiveness. The focus of this paper
is on the clarification of both frameworks. We stress that the issue
is not whether to use watersheds (or basins or hydrologic units)
or ecoregions for needs such as developing ecosystem management and
non-point source pollution strategies or structuring water quality
regulatory programs, but how to correctly use the frameworks together.
Definitions, uses, and misuses of each of the frameworks are discussed
as well as ways watersheds and ecoregions can be and have been used
together effectively to meet resource management needs.
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