Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
• Establish a practical and sustainable multiparty monitoring system that com-
bines local and scientific knowledge, and contributes to effective adaptive man-
agement of the watershed
More than seventy citizens and personnel from various agencies and the Nez Perce
tribe provided ideas and expertise for the watershed assessment. The community-
sponsored process started out by establishing a set of stewardship principles (box 7.1).
These principles were developed to guide the collaborative process. They provided a
common reference point to sustain consensus as the diverse group of stakeholders
worked to generate a mutually agreed-upon assessment of current conditions and,
more critical, recommendations for management. They contributed to building trust
within the new relationships central to the collaborative group and helped maintain
confidence that the investment in time and effort would lead to action acceptable to
all parties.
As these stewardship principles were taking final shape, the NRAC established
four subcommittees to assess the condition of range, forest, road and recreation, and
riparian systems across the Upper Joseph Creek watershed. Where existing manage-
ment information was deemed inadequate, the groups selected (and sometimes mod-
ified
4
) assessment protocols, secured funding, and contracted field surveys. More than
BOX 7.1
Upper Joseph Creek Watershed Stewardship Principles
These principles have been developed to guide the collaborative public land man-
agement process within the Upper Joseph Creek watershed. With time and experi-
ence, it is anticipated that agreement will be reached on principles to guide man-
agement across the watershed.
The ecological systems in the Upper Joseph Creek watershed are disturbance-
adapted systems. Competition within and between species, and natural disturbance
regimes of fire, insects, disease, wind, flood and herbivory, create mosaics of vegeta-
tion cover and structure that change over time and space. The native biological di-
versity of our landscape is adapted to these dynamics.
Thus, in our context, habitat diversity is important. The alteration of disturbance
regimes (through the control of disturbance or resource use) can lead to a simplifi-
cation of vegetation patterns and riparian systems, which may impair watershed
functions and jeopardize the persistence of many native species. Processes that lead
to simplification increase the risks for larger-scale disturbances (such as uncon-
trolled fire, insects, and disease occurrences).
These principles provide a framework in which to exercise our continuing re-
sponsibility for maintaining and enhancing our watershed conditions. In some
areas, restoration is needed to reestablish both structure and function within the
watershed. These principles guide the development of specific management rec-
ommendations and facilitate the collaborative efforts already taking place in our
community.
