Colorado Native Aquatic Species Protection Workshop Summary

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problems, one might conclude that the responses should be focused on improving or maintaining the health of watersheds. A watershed is defined as a geographic area in which surrounding activities may impact a waterbody. Included in this definition is an emphasis on the hydrological, biological and physical characteristics of the waterbody with the recognition of human uses of the water resource, political boundaries, available resources and public interest. A watershed approach is often seen as an appropriate management strategy because of the growing scientific consensus that species within each natural community are often linked together and their aquatic habitats are linked together in limited riparian corridors. In addition to their probable scientific merit, watershed approaches to aquatic species management can facilitate cooperative, creative, and proactive efforts that include all interested parties. Furthermore, experience from many watershed efforts suggests that this approach to natural resource management only works when all parties with an interest in the condition and use of a watershed are voluntarily involved in the discussion on how best to manage it. Interested parties could include water users, landowners, waste water dischargers, conservationists, elected officials, local, state, and federal agencies, chambers of commerce, academia, professional societies, and others. There are other defining features of a watershed management approach. A watershed management approach can often lead to more effective management of a resource than isolated efforts. A watershed approach does not necessarily replace existing efforts but would integrate and focus these efforts in a more productive and efficient manner. In addition, a watershed approach would necessarily look at the interconnectedness between land management, water resources and human activities. Workshop Highlights The potential merits of watershed approaches to aquatic species management was confirmed by many participants at the March 15 workshop. Through a highly interactive process designed to address the four questions noted above, this diverse group of individuals identified through various working groups eight components of a desired future approach to addressing the apparent decline of native aquatic species. Watershed management figured prominently in the reports of a majority of the interactive working groups. These eight components and the processes and intermediate steps used to derive them are detailed more fully in Appendix A, Workshop Notes. The following is a list of the eight components identified by the participants: 1) watershed management approach 2) a common vision 3) coordination and leadership among and within various agencies and organizations 3