Lower Priest River Watershed Collaborative – Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited (TU) initiated the development of The Priest River Watershed Group (PRWG) to bring attention specifically to the lower Priest River and to the degrading state of the fishery on the waterway. Due to the diverse and oftentimes competing water uses in the basin, recent attempts by agencies to address assorted issues has been met with both public support and opposition. In an effort to increase public awareness and support of appropriate solutions, TU organized a watershed group with members of diverse interests to work collaboratively, assist with public understanding of the issues this watershed faces and identify and prioritize potential solutions for these complex issues. TU solicited several funding sources and received multiple grants, including a substantial Bureau of Reclamation grant, to support the creation of the PRWG. Through collaborative planning, public outreach, data compilation, and stakeholder engagement, our focus is to improve the fishery and aquatic habitat in the lower Priest River watershed by seeking solutions to decrease summertime water temperatures, increase summer flows, and improve fish connectivity to cold water tributaries, in the face of a changing climate.

The Priest River Watershed Group (PRWG) provides an opportunity for the communities who live, recreate, work, or are connected to the Priest River Watershed, to:

• Build a shared understanding of current conditions in the watershed.
• Identify and pursue actions that protect and conserve the watershed; rehabilitate ecological integrity; maintain and improve biodiversity; and improve beneficial and recreational uses.
• Increase the community’s connection to and appreciation of the watershed.

Trout Unlimited contracted TLG to act as a neutral third-party in facilitating their collaborative group, comprised of diverse community perspectives. Hannah leads this effort through facilitation of monthly steering committee meetings, stakeholder coordination, conflict resolution, and guiding the group through establishing a Strategic Plan, Work Plan, and ultimately a Restoration Plan.