The Interagency Creeks and Communities Strategy: Creating Healthy Streams and Wetlands by Bringing People Together

Abstract

Riparian-wetland areas in the western United States provide a variety of ecological, economic, and social benefits, even though they comprise a relatively small percentage of the total land base. Today, successful management of these areas depends on bringing diverse groups of people together and building the capacity needed to confront and manage complex and contentious issues. The federal-level, interagency Creeks and Communities (CC) Strategy is designed to integrate the biophysical and social dimensions of riparian-wetland management to achieve results that benefit both creeks and the communities that depend on them. The strategy is a partnership of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service (FS), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to build understanding, ownership, and commitment in those individuals who must ultimately implement management decisions by incorporating scientific and technical information into collaborative decision-making processes. Many other agencies, nongovernmental organizations, committed public employees, and private citizens participate in, support, and contribute to the strategy.