The Plan is a useful watershed management tool designed to identify water-quality problems, issues, and concerns; on-going and future restoration activities, projects, and programs; partners and funding sources; and private sector education and outreach needs.

It is also expected to present sensible strategies to protect, maintain, or improve surface water-quality; protect drinking water; manage non point source polluted runoff; benefit human health and quality of life; protect threatened and endangered species, and enhance environmental awareness for citizens who live, visit, or recreate in the North River watershed. The Plan is expected to be implemented as expeditiously as possible as funding is allocated. The Plan will address many priorities including: watershed-based planning, protection, and restoration; best management practices; education and outreach technical assistance; and institutionalization of the Alabama NPS Management Program. It is expected to increase local environmental awareness by providing opportunities, inspiration, and motivation for partnering among many and varied public and private sectors. It also supports environmental stewardship through watershed planning and implementation efforts of the Alabama Clean Water Partnership. Improvements in water-quality are expected to be realized as citizen awareness is increased, stakeholders become more engaged in watershed-based decision-making processes, and as the watershed plan is implemented.

Improve Water-quality
It is the goal of this Plan to make recommendations which assist in bringing all water-quality parameters within State water-quality standards for Fish & Wildlife as identified in Chapter 335-6-10 of the Alabama Code. This Plan seeks to implement environmentally protective and economically realistic recommendations where practicable and
technologically feasible in order to meet or exceed water-quality standards. BMP types and numbers in this plan are recommendations – but are based on recent studies from credible sources, current land use practices, and watershed activities. Voluntary, incentive-based approaches will be used to implement recommendations throughout the watershed. Providing opportunities for local stakeholder input and participation will continue to be a critical implementation component.