Session Coordinator: Monty Schmitt, Sr Project Director, TNC California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy; David Dralle, Ph.D., U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

No single project or parcel can restore streamflow on its own—lasting change happens at the watershed scale, where small and large efforts alike add up to healthier rivers and more reliable water supplies. Consequently, progress depends on the accumulation of work across scales—from focused site-specific projects to broader watershed planning.

 

This session will highlight a diversity of approaches that collectively support watershed health and salmon recovery. Topics will include groundwater and recharge work, streamflow restoration projects, and the role of local and regional water management policies in shaping outcomes for salmon and communities. Presentations will showcase case studies where practitioners are linking science, modeling, and monitoring with policy and on-the-ground action.

 

By bringing together researchers, managers, and community partners, this session will provide insights into how both small-scale efforts and watershed-scale strategies can restore and protect flows, improve water security, and advance salmon recovery.