Integrated Watershed Managem Ent : Comparing Selected Experiences in the U . S . and Australia

The emergence of integrated watershed management (IWM) in several countries throughout the world reflects a growing recognition of the multiple—often competing—uses of water, and the increased awareness of the interrelationships of water systems with other physical and socioeconomic systems. There are many different definitions and descriptions of the concept. Margerum and Born (1995, 377) contend that integrated management “promotes a holistic view that requires looking at the full range of activities and programmes that affect a system or region and developing strategies for managing critical components and interrelationships.” Mitchell (1990) notes that integrated watershed management involves the systematic consideration of the various dimensions of water, its interaction with other systems, and with social and economic development. Similarly, Guruswamy (1989) asserts that the concept of watershed is now extending to beyond the physical boundaries to include the service areas created by humans.