The Nexus Between Land and Water Conservation

Efforts to restore habitat for salmonids in the Pacific Northwest often focus heavily on riparian and floodplain restoration. In recent years, stream flow restoration has also been recognized as an important component of salmon recovery. Since the formation of the nation’s first water trusts nearly 15 years ago, strategies for keeping water  instream using market based, non-regulatory approaches are gaining maturity in the Pacific Northwest.  Nonprofit water trusts that aim to restore stream flows were modeled after land trusts, yet there are key differences between protecting land and water. While there are literally hundreds of organizations and agencies working on habitat restoration there are a handful of groups working on stream flow restoration. This presentation will explore the nexus between land conservation and environmental flow restoration.  We will explore key differences and similarities between water focused and land focused conservation groups, highlighting some of the sticky issues associated with projects that incorporate both land protection or restoration and flow enhancement. Challenges of dealing with water in land conservation transactions, including appraisal and valuation, will be discussed. Finally, we will provide real examples of how cooperation between land conservation interests and flow restoration efforts can deliver win-win solutions in today’s ever-tightening water market.