There are several enhancements and future phases already planned for the Watershed Health Assessments:
Currently, the Watershed Health Assessment Framework delivers health scores for Minnesota’s 81 Major Watersheds (HUC 8). In order to help managers and decision-makers use a systems perspective at a more local scale, some of the health index scores will be generated for the Minor Watersheds (HUC 12). At this scale, the index results will reveal health trends within major watersheds, while still recognizing the influence of trends that occur outside of those boundaries.
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In addition to looking within Major Watersheds, the Watershed Health Assessments will also deliver scores and rankings that group Major Watersheds by major river basin. By pulling out index and component results and reviewing them from a birds-eye perspective, comparisons between Major Watersheds will show landscape level trends.
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The Watershed Health Assessment Framework will be used to revisit the Health Scores on a five year basis. The Watershed Health Scores will be recalculated and trends in watershed health will be tracked. Comparing index results may be complicated by changes in data quality that occur during that time. Some adjustment to scoring will be necessary to keep the results as consistent and comparable as possible.
The Watershed Health Assessment Framework is designed to broaden in scope and grow to encompass other aspects of system health. A comprehensive overview of the health of Minnesota’s watersheds will need to reflect the status and well-being of other systems including our social, economic and human health. By looking at the whole system, a “Healthy Watershed” will mean an integrated community that is meeting the needs of all inhabitants in a sustainable manner.