The state contains approximately 320 NRCS watersheds. In Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act authorizes the establishment of local boards that can identify watersheds as preservation areas. State agencies and programs can then be tapped to help local governments implement preservation plans. Watersheds may be ranked and targeted for attention and action according to a number of criteria. These criteria may differ from state to state, local government to local government, and citizen group to citizen group.
Most states use some type of formal process for prioritizing their waterbodies or watersheds.
This ranking criterion can ensure that waters most ecologically damaged, sensitive, or at risk get special consideration in the decision process. These waters might include cold water fisheries, primary nursery areas, and outstanding resource waters. This criterion ensures that waters most valued by the public or having the potential for public use receive consideration. Public support helps ensure funding and may indicate citizens' willingness to push for control efforts. Even watersheds that rank high according to the above criteria may not be the most suitable for intensive management efforts.