Planning for integrated, uniform use is critical to protecting and preserving water resources. When first formed the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District prepared, what was then called, an “Overall Plan”. The Overall Plan focused upon management of flood waters. The Staring Lake Outlet – Purgatory Creek Recreation Area Basic Water Management Project completed the cycle of projects identified in the Overall Plan.
With increased sensitivity to ecological impacts, the Board of Managers prepared a water management plan, which was approved and adopted in 1996. This plan was known as the 2nd Generation Water Management Plan, “2nd” referring to the prior Overall Plan. This plan focused upon enhancing and restoring beneficial use of waters from an ecological perspective. The work under this plan focused upon analyzing attainable water uses and identifying projects needed to restore or protect attainable uses. The studies made to carry out this purpose are known as “attainable use analyses”. The Overall Plan, 2nd Generation Plan, and attainable use analyses are available.
Having completed attainable use analyses, the Board of Managers is updating its water management plan; this update is referred to as the 3rd Generation Water Management Plan. This 3rd Generation Plan is being developed through consultation and with the advice of many stakeholders. The steps in the process are set forth in the steps shown. A draft of the 3rd Generation Water Management Plan is available - click "Third Generation Water Management Plan" to the left, in the "Draft" folder.