Partnerships
Prairie waters connect communities and jurisdictions. The institute is envisioned as a place where their knowledge, people, and conservation work can meet.
The ambition is to strengthen the work already happening across the region—and create capacity to do more together.
The relationships and opportunities below are proposed in the founding document. They are not announcements of formal partnership agreements.
Build reciprocal relationships with Tribal fisheries and natural resource programs, schools, elders, and youth.
Community-defined research, student mentorship, support for Tribal monitoring programs, and knowledge stewardship grounded in Tribal sovereignty.
The proposal includes Indigenous knowledge and data sovereignty. Any repository or shared knowledge work would need to be shaped with its contributing communities.
Connect state and federal programs, universities, and conservation nonprofits across the Great Plains.
Species recovery, coordinated field monitoring, propagation research, laboratory processing, and scientific analysis that informs management.
Create more ways for students and early-career professionals to learn by doing.
Field trips, research mentorship, internships, practical training, and pathways into freshwater science for historically underrepresented students.
Make freshwater conservation part of everyday community life.
Public science events, fishing and natural-history outings, freshwater art, local festivals, and shared educational programming.
Regional connections
The draft identifies these institutions, programs, and networks as part of the regional context or as potential collaborators. Their inclusion here does not imply endorsement.
Listen early. Share knowledge responsibly. Make decisions together.
The founding proposal puts reciprocity, Tribal sovereignty, transparency, and long-term stewardship at the center of collaboration. It also outlines an independent board and a Youth Council to keep future generations in view.
Explore the values behind the workExplore the conservation, research, and education programs at the heart of the proposal.
