Watershed-Scale Partnerships Resulting in On-the-Ground Action. Kate Morse and Kari Rogers, Copper River Watershed Project

Watershed Partnerships

Copper River Watershed Project

Traditional land boundaries do not encompass complete hydrologic cycles through the landscape, and in the case of the Copper River watershed, there are many public and private landowners connected within its waterways. The Copper River Watershed Project (CRWP) is a nonprofit organization that partners with residents, public and private landowners, resource managers, and recreational users throughout the watershed in an effort to keep the entire ecosystem intact and functioning to support communities reliant on its resources. Maintaining connectivity of aquatic habitat for migratory and resident fish species by systematically replacing culverts with fish-friendly designs, and invasive plant management are two examples of watershed-scale partnerships currently managed by CRWP. We will provide an overview of these partnerships and their recent successes on the ground as well as current challenges and next steps. We will also share what makes these regional partnerships successful and welcome discussion on other programs that might benefit from a watershed-scale approach. [e-mail]; [e-mail]