Watershed Restoration and Forest Roads Symposium
PRC and co-sponsors convened a "Watershed Restoration and Forest Roads Symposium" on April 4, 2008, in Tacoma, Washington for policymakers, scientists, conservationists and the interested public. Road-related watershed restoration, including road removal, remediation and passage for aquatic organisms, is a priority need in many Western watersheds -- including our national forests and other public lands. Expert panels explained the impacts of roads on water, fish and wildlife, and how to reduce these impacts. The economic benefits of restoration, key collaborative efforts, and prospects for long-term solutions to shortfalls in public investment were explored in an interactive format. This symposium fits into a coordinated suite of actions PRC and others are taking to increase awareness of the need to address road-related threats to water quality and aquatic species across the Western United States.
PRC and co-sponsors convened a "Watershed Restoration and Forest Roads Symposium" on April 4, 2008, in Tacoma, Washington for policymakers, scientists, conservationists and the interested public. Road-related watershed restoration, including road removal, remediation and passage for aquatic organisms, is a priority need in many Western watersheds -- including our National Forests and other public lands. Expert panels explained the impacts of roads on water, fish and wildlife, and how to reduce these impacts. The economic benefits of restoration, key collaborative efforts, and prospects for long-term solutions to shortfalls in public investment were explored in an interactive format. This symposium fits into a coordinated suite of actions PRC and others are taking to increase awareness of the need to address road-related threats to water quality and aquatic species across the Western United States.
The Keynote Speakers were U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (WA), Chair, Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and Pat Williams, former U.S. Rep. (MT) and Founder of Western Progress.
Conference Materials
Presentations can be downloaded by clicking on their respective titles below.
Video recordings by TVW of select presentations can be viewed by clicking on the respective video links below.
Panel Discussions and Presentations
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Mary Scurlock, Pacific Rivers Council
Jay Manning, Washington Department of Ecology
Video Recording -- Welcome & Introductions and Panel One
PANEL ONE: A SCIENCE AND POLICY OVERVIEW OF ROADS AND WATERSHED HEALTH
Moderator: Dave Powers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ecological Impacts of Roads in an Era of Climate Change
Chris Frissell, Ph.D., Pacific Rivers Council
Reducing Road Impacts to Protect and Restore Water Quality in Washington State
Stephen Bernath, Washington State Department of Ecology
Video Recording -- Welcome & Introductions and Panel One
PANEL TWO: THE ECONOMICS OF WATERSHED RESTORATION
Moderator: Joe Kerkvliet, Ph.D., The Wilderness Society
The Economic Justification for Investment in Watershed Restoration
Dave Batker, Earth Economics
The Economic Payoff of Road Reclamation
Marnie Criley, Wildlands CPR
Socioeconomic Contributions of Natural Resource Restoration in Humboldt County, California
Mark Baker, Ph.D., Humboldt State University
MIDDAY KEYNOTE
Pay Dirt: How to Build and Brand a Restoration Economy
Pat Williams, former U.S. Rep. (MT) and Founder of Western Progress
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE
Securing the Future of Fish and Forests: The Legacy Roads Remediation Initiative and Beyond
U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (WA), Chairman, Interior Appropriations Subcommittee
Video Recording -- Afternoon Keynote Speaker, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA)
PANEL THREE: RESTORATION BASICS, SETTING PRIORITIES AND TRACKING OUR PROGRESS
Moderator: Mary Ann Madej, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey
The Basics of Roads Assessment, Remediation, Removal and Prioritization
Bill Weaver, Pacific Watershed Associates
Measuring Success: Watershed Restoration in Fish Creek, Mt. Hood National Forest
Dan Shively, Mt. Hood National Forest
PANEL FOUR: CASE STUDIES, CONTROVERSY, COLLABORATION AND COST-SHARING
Moderator: Bonnie Phillips, Olympic Forest Coalition
The Skokomish Watershed Action Team: Enhancing Watershed Resiliency through Collaboration
Robin Stoddard, Olympic National Forest
Rebecca Lloyd, Nez Perce Tribe and University of Arizona
Opportunites for Partnership on the Rio Grande
Bryan Bird, WildEarth Guardians
PANEL FIVE: WHAT NEXT? PROSPECTS FOR ADEQUATE INVESTMENT ON FEDERAL, STATE, TRIBAL AND PRIVATE LANDS
Moderator: Mary Scurlock, Pacific Rivers Council
Aide to Rep. Norm Dicks
Joel Merkel, Office of Senator Maria Cantwell
Paula Swedeen, Ph.D., Ecological Economist
Terry Williams, Tulalip Tribes
Program Details and Materials
- Symposium Program, includes Presentation Summaries, Speaker Biographies, and Participant List - click here to view
To request a hard copy or if you have questions, contact Lauren McFarlane at lauren@pacificrivers.org or 503/228-3555.
Press Room
Media advisory for this event - click here to view.
Pat Williams, Guest Columnist news article, A new and restored economy for the West - click here to view.
Please contact Lauren McFarlane at lauren@pacificrivers.org or 503/228-3555 with additional questions.
We gratefully acknowledge the sponsors of this symposium:
Pacific Rivers Council
Washington Department of Ecology
The Bullitt Foundation
The Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation
The Mountaineers Foundation
The Wilderness Society
Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative
Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative partners
Alpine Lakes Protection Society * American Whitewater
Gifford Pinchot Task Force * North Cascades Conservation Council
Olympic Forest Coalition * Pacific Rivers Council * Pilchuck Audubon Society
Sierra Club, Cascade Chapter * The Mountaineers * The Wilderness Society
Washington Dept. of Ecology * Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Washington Wilderness Coalition * Wild Fish Conservancy * Wildlands CPR
