Water Connects Us All: A Community Guidebook for Restoring Mountain Watersheds was developed to help people better understand the connections among water, land use, ecosystems, development, and climate—and translate that understanding into practical action.

Blue Earth ‘s Tim Ormond, P.E., served as lead author of the 281-page guidebook, developed in partnership with the Land of Sky Regional Council with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project brought together research, engineering, regional experience, case studies, and practical strategies specifically relevant to the mountain watersheds of Western North Carolina.

At the heart of the guidebook is a simple idea: many of our water challenges are interconnected. Flooding, erosion, degraded streams, stormwater runoff, declining water quality, and reduced groundwater recharge are all influenced by how water moves through the landscape. Restoring more natural water processes can therefore provide multiple benefits at the same time.

The guidebook explores approaches ranging from actions that individual homeowners can take to neighborhood-scale green infrastructure, watershed restoration, community planning, and local policy. It was written for a broad audience—including interested citizens, property owners, community organizations, educators, local governments, designers, and technical professionals.

Case studies and technical resources connect these principles with real-world examples from Western North Carolina, while supporting materials provide tools for communities interested in putting them into practice.

Ultimately, Water Connects Us All is intended not simply as a technical reference, but as a resource for collective action—helping communities understand how restoring the water cycle can contribute to healthier watersheds, more resilient landscapes, and stronger communities. Water Connects Us All can be explored and downloaded at www.waterandclimate.net.