Watershed Working Group
Watershed Working Group (WWG) is a partnership between local and federal government agencies, environmental non-profits and other concerned groups which gathers to provide technical expertise and project support on watershed initiatives in the CNMI. The group typically meets every two months to discuss ongoing projects and request review or recommendations on specific issues.
Please check the CRM calendar for the next WWG meeting. Please contact our Watershed Coordinator (watersheds@dcrm.gov.mp) for any further information or to be added to the email list.
Meeting Materials and Resources
Keep up to date with presentations, materials and other group updates! Open “Notes & Updates” for further details and links relevant to CNMI’s watersheds.
October 17, 2023
- October 17, 2023. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates; Robbie Greene (PCRP): Watershed Projects Priority Setting
- Survey: PCRP Saipan Watershed Restoration Priorities
- Flyer: Micronesia Challenge Young Champions Internship
- Flyer: NPS Marine Science Internship
- Flyer: NMC Annual Research Symposium
July 20, 2023
- July 20, 2023. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates
- Flyer: Volunteers Needed! Community Recycles Plastics Project (MINA)
November 3, 2022
- November 3, 2022. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Final Draft Achugao Watershed Management Plan
- For Comment: DRAFT Achugao Watershed Management Plan (AWMP) – Please send comments by January 1, 2023 to zwilliams@dcrm.gov.mp
- For Comment: DRAFT Shoreline Enhancement Plan for the Beach Road Pathway Corridor – Please send comments, questions, or edits by December 2, 2022 to becky.skeele@pacificcrp.org
- Flyer: Bring Back our Trees: November Planting Events (MINA)
- Flyer: Eco-Tour Operator Best Practices Course (DCRM)
- Publication: Houk et al. 2022. Nutrient thresholds to protect water quality, coral reefs, and nearshore fisheries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 184-114144.
- Publication: October 2022. Forest Stewardship Program Newsletter. U.S. Forest Service. → CNMI work highlighted on page 4 (Pacific Southwest 4 Region)
July 29, 2022
- July 29, 2022. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates; Anne Kitchell (Horsely Witten Group):Draft Achugao Watershed Management Plan
- Presentation: Robbie Greene (PCRP): Prioritizing Forest Stewardship Lands: A Footprint for Private Habitat Restoration & Preservation (+ PacIOOS Water Quality Monitoring Opportunity)
- Video: Robbie Greene (PCRP): Prioritizing Forest Stewardship Lands: A Footprint for Private Habitat Restoration & Preservation
- Flyer: International Coastal Cleanup – Sept. 17, 2022
March 1, 2022
- March 1, 2022. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Lani Watson Shannon Ruseborn (NOAA Restoration Center): Coastal Marine Habitat Restoration Funding Opportunity; Patricia Rodriguez, Elise Jarrett (USACE), CNMI Post Disaster Watershed Assessment; Kelsey McClellan (Pacific Coastal Research & Planning): Shoreline Stabilization and Enhancement Plan for the Beach Road Pathway, Saipan, CNMI; Robbie Green (Pacific Coastal Research & Planning): Nature Based Solutions for Hazard Mitigation; Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates
- For Comment: CNMI DRAFT Post Disaster Watershed Plan March 2022 – Please provide comments by March 31, 2022 to CNMIWA@usace.army.mil
- Public Notice: CNMI Watershed Assessment Notice for Public Comment – Nov. 23, 2022
- Funding Opportunities: FEMA Resource Report
January 20, 2022 [update only, no meeting]
- For Comment: Saipan Fire Management DRAFT Plan – Please provide comments by February 28, 2022 to Ilan Bubb at ilan.bubb@opd.gov.mp
November 15, 2021
- November 15, 2021. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates; Robbie Green (Pacific Coastal Research & Planning): Achugao Watershed Community Workshop; Anne Kitchell (Horsely Witten Group): Laolao Bay Watershed Draft Action Plan; Mary Fem Urena (DCRM Coastal Planner): Living Shorelines & Nature-Based Solutions Guidebook; Olivia Tenorio (DEQ Water Quality Surveillance & Nonpoint Source): Storm Drain Guards Pilot Project
- Flyer: Achugao Watershed Community Workshop – Nov. 23, 2021
- For Comment: Laolao Bay Watershed DRAFT Action Plan – Please provide comments by mid-December 2021 to Anne Kitchell at akitchell@horsleywitten.com
August 3, 2021
- August 3, 2021. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Updates; Mary Fem Urena (DCRM Coastal Planner): Better Buildings Update; Larry Maurin (DEQ Water Quality Surveillance & Nonpoint Source Branch Manager): Proposed Amendments to CNMI Water Quality Standards; Robbie Greene (Pacific Coastal Research & Planning): Updated 2020 2030 CNMI Forest Action Plan, Updated USFS CNMI Forest Inventory & Analysis, Updated Micronesia Challenge Terrestrial Measures; James Manglona (DLNR Rota Forester) & Pedro Tudela (DLNR Forestry Technician): Reforestation Updates
- Flyer: Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Hazards 101 Virtual Workshop
- Flyer: 2021 MINA Green Gala Tickets on Sale
- For Comment: Proposed Amendments to CNMI Water Quality Standards, addendum to the June 2021 edition of the Commonwealth Register
- Publication: Dendy et al. 2020. Forest Status Across Micronesia from an Assessment of Micronesia Challenge Terrestrial Measures and Forest Inventory and Analysis Data. Micronesica 2020.02:1–16.
May 6, 2021
- May 6, 2021. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Anne Kitchell (Horsley Witten): Achugao WMP Updates; Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Watershed Project Updates; Ilan Bubb (DCRM Coral Fellow): Fire Management Plan Updates
- Publication: Knapp et al. 2020. Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) to Coastal Waters of Saipan: Implications for Nitrogen Sources, Transport and Ecological Effects
- Publication: Achugao Watershed 2020 Interim Report
- Publication: Achugao Watershed 2020 Interim Report, Appendix A: Field Forms
- Publication: Laolao Bay Watershed 2020 Interim Report
- Horsley Witten “CNMI Watersheds Assessment & Planning” webpage: https://horsleywitten.com/cnmiwatersheds/
- Horsley Witten Online Mapping of Drainage Infrastructure & Potential Project Sites (Saipan): https://arcg.is/j1eqD0
February 23, 2021
- February 23, 2021. Notes & Updates
- Presentations: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Finalizing Garapan & Talakhaya WMPs; Ilan Bubb (DCRM Coral Fellow): Wireless Ridge Revegetation
- Publication: Talakhaya 2020 Watershed Management Plan (TWMP) Final Internal Draft_signed
- Publication: Garapan 2020 Watershed Management Plan (TWMP) Final Internal Draft_unsigned
- Presentation: Becky Skeele (Koa Consulting): Achugao WMP Updates
- Publication: Targeted Conservation Delivery (TCD) Overview
- NRCS Priority-Setting Board
- NRCS CNMI FY 21 Priority Resource Concern Survey
- NRCS CNMI Resource Categories with Definitions
- NRCS Pacific Islands Area FY 21 Priority Resource Concern Survey Results
- Publication: Achugao Watershed 2020 Interim Report
- Publication: Achugao Watershed 2020 Interim Report, Appendix A: Field Forms
- Horsley Witten Online Mapping of Drainage Infrastructure & Potential Project Sites (Saipan): https://arcg.is/j1eqD0
October 21, 2020
- October 21, 2020. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): Garapan & Talakhaya WMPs and Next Steps
- Flyer: Hope Garden (Tanapag Community Garden)
- Publication: CNMI DFW. 2008. Freshwater Invasive Species Project
- Publication: NOAA. 2020. A Manager’s Guide to Coral Reef Restoration Planning and Design. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 36
- CNMI Public Law No. 20-20
- 2020 Talakhaya Integrated Watershed Management Plan(DCRM internal draft) — “Financial Resources” section
June 30, 2020
- June 30, 2020. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Ilan Bubb (DCRM Coral Fellow): Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Fire on Saipan
- Presentation: Zak Williams (DCRM Watershed Coordinator): 2020 Laolao Sediment Chamber Clean-out
- Presentation: Becky Skeele (Koa Consulting): Garapan Watershed Management Plan
- Draft Document: Garapan Watershed Management Plan Draft Objectives & Actions
June 5, 2020 [update only, no meeting]
March 11, 2020
May 16, 2018
- May 16, 2018. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: R. Camacho (BECQ) & R. Greene (NOAA Affiliate): Shoreline Vulnerability Along the Saipan Lagoon: Measuring Exposure in our Lower Watersheds
March 21, 2018
- Mar. 21, 2018. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Wayne Dawe and Daniel Kaipat, MINA: Garapan Field Surveillance Program
- Presentation: David Benavente, BECQ – CRM: Laolao Bay Status and Function
November 15, 2017
- Nov. 15, 2017. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Malcolm Johnson, NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellow: Revegetation, Soil Loss, and Management in the Talakhaya Watershed
- Publication: Talakhaya Watershed Soil Loss Assessment: Phase II Stream Monitoring Report
August 15, 2017
- Aug. 15, 2017. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: James Benevente, BECQ: Individual Wastewater Disposal (Septic Systems)
- Presentation: William Gilmore, CUC: CUC Wastewater Infrastructure, Priorities, Issues and Developments
- Presentation: Jeremy Raynal. Management Efforts in Faga’alu Priority Watershed
- Presentation: Roberto Rios, Guanica Watershed Coordinator: Guanica Bay Watershed Restoration Project, Guanica, Puerto Rico
- Presentation: Tova Callender, West Maui Watershed & Coastal Management Coordinator: West Maui Priority Watershed: Progress towards site-graduation
May 3, 2017
- May 3, 2017. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: R. Greene, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality: GIS Application of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. Aka…Fun with watershed data!
January 18, 2017
- Jan. 18, 2017. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: R. Camacho, University of Guam. Drivers of macroalgal dynamics within halodule seagrass beds in Saipan Lagoon.
- Presentation: T. Brasuell, NRCS Soil and Water Conservation District. Kagman Watershed Project.
October 26, 2016
July 20, 2016
- July 20, 2016. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Okano & Okano. Groundwater and Surface Water Impacts on Nearshore Biological Communities in Saipan Lagoon
- Presentation: CNMI Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Overview
May 18, 2016
- May 18, 2016. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: McKagan et al. Relative Resilience Potential of Coral Reefs to Inform Management in the CNMI
- Reef Report! A new app for reporting environmental violations
February 17, 2016
November 18, 2015
August 12, 2015
May 13, 2015
February 11, 2015
- Feb. 11, 2015. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Laolao Bay Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Summary
- Presentation: R. Okano & R. Greene. Laolao Turbidity Analysis
- Presentation: L. Johnston (MMT). Laolao Inverts, Fish and Coral Preliminary Analysis
August 13, 2014
- Aug. 13, 2014. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG): Pre-treatment of Wastewater
May 14, 2014
February 12, 2014
November 13, 2013
August 14, 2013
May 22, 2013
- May 22, 2013. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: R. Greene. Some Notes and Updates from the CNMI Climate Change Working Group
November 13, 2013
November 14, 2012
- Nov. 14, 2012. Notes & Updates
- Presentation: Kaitlin Mattos. Garapan Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Updates
August 15, 2012
May 16, 2012
February 13, 2012
February 8, 2012
January 25, 2011
- Jan. 25, 2011. Notes & Updates
- Presentation
- Watershed Planning Group: Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Work Tasks
Other WWG resources:
- BECQ. 2015. Sabana/Talakhaya Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Revision
- DEQ. 2013. Garapan Watershed Conservation Action Plan (CAP)
- BECQ. 2012. Laolao Bay Conservation Action Plan (CAP) 2012 Addendum and Workplan
- DEQ. 2012. Talakhaya/Sabana Conservation Action Plan (CAP)
- DEQ. 2009. Laolao Bay Conservation Action Plan (CAP)
- 1998. CNMI Unified Watershed Assessment
Know Your Watersheds
Know your watershed! Click on a watershed below to learn more details about that watershed, including a “Report Card” of land-based sources of pollution.
Or, click here to explore the latest watershed data available in ArcGIS.
