A stream management plan is a process that identifies the type of future stakeholders wish for their waterway, balances the objectives of various user groups, and creates an actionable plan that brings about that future. It is informed by the public at large, business owners, land managers, elected officials, agricultural producers and more. It is not binding, but instead creates a roadmap that arrives at a mutually agreed upon vision and delivers science and technology in support of this goal. It is a way to ensure the creek becomes the waterway we all want to see in 10, 20, 50, 100 years.

The process begins with public engagement – we will be reaching out to different stake holders to find consensus on a vision and a short list of objectives. The next step is data collection, which is used to ensure support decision making. Then projects are developed that meet the goals and constrain to the guidelines for budget and timing. Finally comes adaptive management, where information is captured, analyzed and the rolled into decision-making to continuously improve the project.

Stream management plans acknowledge that water is precious and limited and seeks ways to use the water smarter so there is enough to go around. The process bridges between competing users to increase the efficiency of water usage and balance the goals of all stakeholders. It is fundamentally and necessarily a transparent process. If done correctly, it will create a plan, achievable over a decade, that can steer the waterway to a state of health and relative abundance that is able to support all its users.

The planning process itself can take three to five years, with implementation occurring on a rolling basis over decades.

The public is involved throughout the process so that their preferences are written into the fabric of the plan. Public participation is what gives the plan its weight and knowing the public’s opinions ensures that land managers and elected officials can act in that knowledge.