Making Decisions for Headwater Stream Conservation
At the Watershed Scale
 Photo Credit: Andrew DietrichLearn more about headwater stream ecosystems and ecology, challenges to their conservation, and the role of decision science and structured decision making (SDM) by checking out our recommended literature and videos here. | Headwater stream ecosystems are important to natural resource managers not only because of their unique aquatic biodiversity, but also because they influence the availability of clean water, mitigate flood control, and have recreational value to hikers and anglers. Balancing these multiple objectives within and among natural resource organizations is generally challenging and may have consequences for headwater stream conservation across large spatial scales. We are working with natural resource organizations throughout the Deerfield and Merrimack Watersheds, two watersheds located in the northeastern US, to identify the impediments to effective headwater stream conservation and explore how alternative forms of collaboration may influence ecological outcomes.  Photo Credit: Dan Hocking a clear and transparent decision process that evaluates the long-term consequences of alternative headwater stream management strategies at the watersheds scale. |
Please contact Rachel Katz (rakatz@umass.edu) if you have any questions or comments about
the project, workshops, or collaborative decision-making for headwater streams!
