Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to present a structure for appraising the water quality impacts of a resource management plan. The Principles and Standards (WRC 1974) requires that alternative management plans be evaluated in terms of achievement of goals which have been defined as specific outputs or desired effects. With Principles and Standards requirements in mind it is logical to define water quality goals in terms of technical water quality parameters, the same parameters with which public health and many other water use standards are defined. Consequently, this examination format will identify a set of technical surface water quality parameters, present the various elements of a water resource management plan, identify the potential impacts of plan elements on the surface water quality parameters, and discuss potential constraints to plan implementation.