2025-038 - Watershed Health Assessment and Treatment Area Prioritization Project

The work will generally consist of:
• Assessing infrastructure and water quality risks from wildfire and watershed impairments.
• Identifying and prioritizing high-functioning natural systems in need of protection – such as
intact wetlands, connected riparian corridors, and groundwater-fed fens – that contribute to
watershed resilience and mitigation wildfire-related impacts.
• Identifying and addressing gaps in existing risk assessments to ensure Northern Water’s
infrastructure and source watershed protection needs are fully evaluated1.
• Prioritizing forest health and stream restoration and protection projects to enhance watershed
resilience and water quality protection.
• Conducting a cost-benefit or return-on-investment (ROI) analysis to guide strategic investments
in forest and watershed health.
• Developing an implementation plan that outlines priority project areas, funding opportunities,
and partnership strategies.