CLIMATE RESILIENCE

PROTECTING OUR WATERSHED

“Healthy, resilient watersheds are the best insurance policy for a changing climate.”
- US Forest Service

water at river mouth

how we care for our watershed

A healthy watershed naturally filters and stores water, prevents flooding, drought, and wildfire. Effective stewardship requires collaborative efforts among multiple owners with multiple interests. The CRWC provides stewardship programs that create collaborative opportunities along with information and science to guide programs forward. 

For 25 year, the CRWC has been the glue, the leadership of collective action from hosting the Carmel River Task Force (CRTF) to investing in river research to guide organizations forward. Recognizing the critical role watersheds play in disaster resilience, we are growing our River Wise stewardship with research and outreach. 

fire fighters

Stewardship for wildfire prevention and recovery

CRWC is partnering with the Fire Safe Council for Monterey County on an updated wildfire prevention guide and talk to help homeowners understand steps they can take to prevent wildfire in the Carmel Valley. Homeowners face conflicting advice in the watershed to clear cut everything as a fire break versus protecting and restoring the riparian corridor. Clear cutting native plants in the watershed can lead to problems in the long-term health of the watershed including faster growth of fire-prone invasive plants, erosion, and heating the soil, water, and uplands. This guide will be available here soon.

We also work to promote Firewise USA Communities and the Alert Wildfire cameras. This program is protecting human and wildlife communities. Learn more here. 

Working with CSUMB, the research we commissioned in 2024 studied the effect of wildfire on the river as well as predictors of wildfire. The full study can be found here.

aerial view of river

Keys to a healthy watershed

It’s critical for us all to change our approach to watershed resilience. As the US Forest Service tells us “Climate Change is hydrologic (water) change” and managing forest, uplands, and riparian vegetation for river health also has dramatic positive impacts on disaster resilience.

A healthy, resilient watershed has the capacity to:

  • Capture and store rainfall

  • Recharge ground water reservoirs

  • Minimize erosion losses and protect soil quality

  • Sustain and regulate streamflows

  • Store and recycle nutrients

  • Support natural riparian and floodplain functions

  • Provide habitat for native aquatic species

  • Resist and recover quickly from floods, fire, insect outbreaks, and other extreme events

river at sunset

becoming riverwise

It is crucial that all landowners become RiverWise in stewarding their lands for overall watershed resilience.

Wondering where to start?