Realizing Entiat’s Long-Term Vision Required Continued Stakeholder Coordination
Building on strong community support, the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit has worked since 1998 to develop and implement a multi-decade restoration strategy to improve water quality, habitat, and native fish productivity in central Washington’s Entiat River. With a comprehensive plan, strong partnerships with supporting agencies, and a vigorous scientific basis to guide its restoration work, the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit has taken a central role in coordinating with landowners and agencies to facilitate a comprehensive watershed restoration program.
However, as the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit’s work progressed, more and more funding became available to support on-the-ground restoration projects and less funding was available to build community support, compile and share restoration results with key stakeholders, and coordinate efforts between agencies, tribes, and landowners. Entiat Watershed Planning Unit members realized that without sustained support to coordinate among key stakeholders, little progress would be realized on the ground.
Long-Term Partnership with BEF Enables Entiat to Sustain Comprehensive Restoration Effort
In 2007, BEF signed an agreement with the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit to provide funding that would help fill critical gaps necessary to advance and sustain an effective restoration and monitoring strategy. BEF pledged to provide technical support and funding to facilitate long-term coordination among watershed landowners, key stakeholders, and agency partners. BEF’s Model Watershed partnership in the Entiat increases the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit’s ability to measure results, enhance institutional learning, build community support, and provide feedback to restoration managers, landowners, and other critical stakeholders.
Click here to see a video on the history of restoration in the Entiat valley, and the creation of the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit.
Model Watershed Partner Contact:
Entiat Watershed Planning Unit
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801
http://www.cascadiacd.org/entiat-watershed-planning_233.html
BEF believes it takes at least a decade to make a difference.
Our long-term funding strategy gives our partners more freedom to approach their work with a longer-term perspective, leading to more comprehensive and strategic action on the ground.