Bonaparte Watershed Streambank Restoration Project

The objective of the project was to review Bonaparte watershed low flow issues and develop a water conservation strategy. This was accomplished by building upon relationships established within the watershed planning and restoration program through the past decade. The project succeeded in assessing water issues at a watershed scale and in expanded with new partnerships in headwater areas of the Upper Bonaparte. New education opportunities about key salmonid habitat values resulted as well as opportunities to support small scale water management improvement demonstration projects in the lower and the upper watershed. The findings of the water use review were that although there are licensing, low flow, supply and demand issues at a watershed scale there are also many opportunities to utilize existing resources much more effectively and help mitigate supply issues at a watershed scale. In addition opportunities for further water management improvements were identified including improved governance and licensing, storage and conservation that support sustainability, with benefits for fish and human use.