Much of the complexity around watershed health science revolves around defining and identifying watershed health. We may be able to measure the output from a healthy watershed such as clean air and water, consistent stream flow and groundwater levels, presence of diverse plant and animal communities; but if we are to continue to receive these outputs, we need to explore the ecological processes that are providing them. How do all the parts system work together to provide a "healthy watershed"?
In order to explore the watershed system in a consistent, systematic way, the ecological processes have been divided into 5 different components:
Using the 5 component framework, a suite of watershed health index scores have been calculated that represent many of the important ecological relationships within and between the components. These scores are built on statewide GIS data that is compared consistently across Minnesota to provide a baseline health condition report for each of the 81 major watersheds in the state.
Watershed health scores for watersheds in Minnesota