Watershed Management Program
The Watershed Management Program is primarily responsible for monitoring and assessment of water quality
in streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands across North Dakota. This is done in cooperation with many local,
state and federal partners. The program's staff address water quality concerns by developing Total
Maximum Daily Loads, Ambient Monitoring Network, Lake water Quality Assessments, Biological Monitoring
and providing technical assistance for watershed projects. Additionally, staff members implement
initiatives such as, the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, the Basin Water Quality Management Framework and
Information/Education.
Joshua Wert
Program Manager
701.328.5014
Programs/Projects/Tools
Maps & Tools
Harmful Algal Bloom Story Map
North Dakota Lakes Tour
Water Quality Data Retrieval Tool
Interactive Watershed Mapping Tool
Total Maximum Daily Load Story Map
The North Dakota NPS Management Program mission is to protect or restore the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of the waters of the state by promoting locally sponsored, incentive based, voluntary
programs where those waters are threatened or impaired due to nonpoint sources of pollution. Our goal for
the NPS Management Program is to initiate a balanced program focused on the restoration and maintenance of
the beneficial uses of the States water resources (i.e. streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands,
aquifers) impaired by NPS pollution.
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are developed for polluted waters, identifying sources of pollution
and outlining steps to achieve water quality standards. In coordination with other Clean Water Act programs
(NPS and NDPDES) TMDLs are implemented through local watershed projects and through water quality permits.
Nutrient pollution is caused by the overabundance of phosphorus and nitrogen in the aquatic environment.
Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in water can cause health problems in people, fish and animals, and damage
our lakes, rivers, reservoirs, streams and wetlands. Excessive phosphorus and nitrogen may also result in
increased costs to treat water for human consumption from surface water supplies.
The purpose of the Basin Framework is to guide water quality management, planning and implementation through
a targeted basin management approach. This basin water quality management planning process will promote more
coordinated data and information collection and sharing, increased availability of technical and financial
resources, and more focused and effective water quality management activities
Quality Water Articles
The Quality Water articles appear in the North Dakota Water Magazine and highlight a variey of water
quality subjects, such as; Groundwater, point source discharges, Harmful Algal Blooms, watershed projects,
private septic systems and more. For more information on North Dakota Water Magazine please visit
https://ndwater.org/publications/water-magazine/
Select An Issue from 2016
Recovery Potential Screening Tool
Basin Water Quality Management
Harmful Algal Blooms
Watershed Management
Tile Drainage - Water Quality
Wetlands - Functions
Storm Sewers - The Other Sewer
Littering in ND
Ice Fishing - Water Quality
Select An Issue from 2017
Winter Fish Kills - Water Quality
Proper Manure Storage
Lawn Care - The Quest for Green
Artwork Contest Winners
Red River Basin WQ Management Meetings
Water Quality Sampler Training
Success Story - Shortfoot Creek
WQ Monitoring Conference
Department of Environmental Quality
Select An Issue from 2018
Success Story: Thirty Mile Creek Watershed
World Water Day
Watershed Leadership Academy
Disposal of Pharmaceuticals - Water Quality
Artwork Contest Winners
July - Lakes Appreciation Month
Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Precision Planning to Benefit the Bottom Line, Habitat and Water
Soil and Water Conservation Leadership Academy
A Partnership for Improving Soil & Water Conservation
Select An Issue from 2019
River Keepers
Water Quality Impact
Conservation Conversation
KNDC
HABs
PTMApp
Weed Wars
Beneficial Uses
Open Burning
2020 NDWQMC
Select An Issue from 2020
Algal Bloom Review
Lake Summaries
Septic Systems
Water Quality Data
HABs Tools
NPS Program
Wide Row Corn Demo
Biological Monitoring
Crossword Quiz
2020 HABs Wrap Up
Select An Issue from 2021
Water Quality Monitoring Conference
Water Quality Standards
Spring Lawn Care
Soil Conservation Districts
Soil Erosion
Total Maximum Daily Loads
North Dakota Lakes
Jim Collins Sign-off
National Aquatic Resource Surveys
National Wetland Condition Assessment
Select An Issue from 2022
National Lakes Assessment
National Rivers and Streams Assessment
Harmful Algal Blooms
Water Quality Conference
Keep North Dakota Clean Annual Art Contest Winners
NDPDES
Enhancing Citizen Science to Address an Emerging Contaminant
Staff Highlight: 2022 Summer Interns
2022 Watershed Coordinator's Meeting
Clean Water Act Anniversary
Select An Issue from 2023
2022 HABs Review
Addressing Emerging Contaminants: Red River PFAS Results
Upper Spring Creek Success Story
Aquatic Nuisance Species
Lakes Appreciation Month
Staff Highlight: 2023 Summer Interns
North Dakota Eco Eds
North Dakota Impaired Waters
Select An Issue from 2024
2023 HABs Review
Impaired Waters Survey Results
NPS Watershed Projects
Water Quality Conference
KNDC Annual Art Contest Winners
Staff Highlight: 2024 Summer Interns
2024 Watershed Coordinator's Meeting
2024 HABs Review
Select An Issue from 2025
Richland County SCD
Stutsman County SCD
Morton County SCD
Monitoring Program
Harmful Algal Blooms
Staff Highlights: 2025 Summer Interns
Harmful Algal Blooms & NASA
On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems
Select An Issue from 2026
Improving North Dakota Watersheds