The Carson River Coalition (CRC) is a stakeholder group that serves as the steering committee for the integrated watershed planning process (IWPP) within the Carson River Watershed. It was conceived during a watershed-wide conference held in response to the 1997 floods. During this conference, CWSD was asked to serve as the CRC coordinator and establish its IWPP. Participants in the CRC include private individuals; local, state and federal agencies; Tribal governments; and citizen-driven groups. The IWPP program focuses on managing watershed resources long-term and addresses the diverse needs and concerns of all stakeholders. The CRC initially developed the Carson River Watershed vision statement and guiding principles, which were adopted by five counties and approximately 20 agencies and organizations within the Watershed. They form the backbone of the 2007 Carson River Watershed Adaptive Stewardship Plan  and its 2017 supplemental update actively championed by the CRC today.

Four CRC working groups were established to address specific programs: education, floodplain management, invasive species, and agricultural production. Events such as annual forums and periodic workshops provide stakeholders an opportunity to highlight their particular projects and discuss regional benefits.

Guiding Principles

1. Manage the water’s resources for economic sustainability, quality of life, and protection of private and public property rights.
2. Acknowledge and respect the watershed’s natural processes in land use decisions.
3. Maintain or improve the quality of the water to support a variety of beneficial uses.
4. Protect the headwaters region as the system’s principal water source.
5. Recognize and respect the interests of all stakeholders upstream and downstream by fostering collaborative and mutual respectful relationships.
6. Maintain the riverine and alluvial fan floodplains of the Carson River Watershed to accommodate flood events.
7. Protect and manage uplands, mountain ranges, wetlands, and riparian areas to enhance the quality of surface flow, groundwater recharge, and wildlife habitat.
8. Promote conservation of water from all sectors of the community’s water users for the benefit of municipal, industrial, agricultural, domestic, recreational, and natural resources.
9. Encourage management of growth that considers water quality and quantity, open space preservation, and maintenance of agriculture in floodplains.
10. Protect and support opportunities for public recreational access to natural areas throughout the watershed – including the river corridor – where appropriate.
11. Promote understanding and awareness of watershed resources and issues through cooperative education efforts throughout the watershed