When the watershed management strategy is clear-cut it will come to the crucial point: putting the plan into action. Successful implementation implies a social consensus that the elaborated plan is an effective means to reach the determined goals for the watershed (Heathcote 1998). Regular monitoring and report writing is carried out during implementation. This is essential to convince departments and funding organisations of the plan's success and to secure participation of the public (Förch and Schütt 2004 b). Monitoring requires a comprehensive, thematically broad methodology which is to be developed according to the concrete context (Hurni et al. 2003).

Implementing the Gina River watershed management plan

The Gina River catchment planning committee’s task is now to implement their watershed plan. The implementation starts at the divide and then gradually proceeds downslope (see figure which you can open here or on the second figure beside). The reason for this sequence is that, owing to gravity, soil erosion by water progresses downslope and the amount of water increases in the same direction; the forces of erosion increase accordingly. In the upper reaches afforestation is the first step. Afterwards terraces will be constructed in the middle and lower reaches to stop erosional processes. Additional positive effects of terraces are water harvesting (Förch and Schütt 2004 b, Tidemann 1998). Monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes, effects and impacts should be done.