Mapping the Way to Better Mapping the Way to Better Aquatic Habitat – Aquatic Habitat –

NFHAP Science and Data Team Report NFHAP Science and Data Team Report UpdateUpdate

Stan AllenStan AllenPacific States Marine Fisheries CommissionPacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Originally Presented By:Originally Presented By:Doug Beard Doug Beard

U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey

Gary E. WhelanGary E. WhelanMI DNRMI DNR

NFHAP Science and Data Team Co-ChairsNFHAP Science and Data Team Co-Chairs

Science & Data Team Science & Data Team ObjectivesObjectives

• Develop a National habitat status & trends reportDevelop a National habitat status & trends report

• Develop a National assessment frameworkDevelop a National assessment framework • Provide a tool for the measurement of habitat Provide a tool for the measurement of habitat

actionsactions

• Develop a set of habitat measures and priorities Develop a set of habitat measures and priorities

• Develop overall targets and goalsDevelop overall targets and goals

Think Big to Get Lasting Think Big to Get Lasting ResultsResults

• Treating symptoms not process problemsTreating symptoms not process problems

• Small scale treatments overwhelmed by Small scale treatments overwhelmed by large system problemslarge system problems

• Focus on system processes to get lasting Focus on system processes to get lasting resultsresults

• Habitats are nested in scaleHabitats are nested in scale

Overall Habitat Assessment Overall Habitat Assessment FrameworkFramework

Classify all of the Nation’s Waters

Score Their Condition – Using Series of Condition Variables Summed into an Index

Grade Them By Best Theoretical Possible and Best Currently Available in Classified Group

Apply Applicable Habitat Measures to Remedy Problems or Apply Protective

Measures to Maintain Condition

• Inland - Above the head of tide or above backwater effect of the Great Lakes • Based on USGS Aquatic GAP Programs and TNC classifications

• Coastal - Includes Great Lakes and everything below head of tidal influence• Based on NOAA, NatureServe and TNC classifications

Inland & Coastal Classification

Example Classification

Focus on Key Focus on Key ProcessesProcesses((Emergent Properties)Emergent Properties)• ConnectivityConnectivity• HydrologyHydrology• Channel and Bottom FormChannel and Bottom Form• Material RecruitmentMaterial Recruitment• Water QualityWater Quality• Energy Flow in Aquatic CommunitiesEnergy Flow in Aquatic Communities

Types of Data - Types of Data - InlandInland

• Stream or River BarriersStream or River Barriers• Stream or River Gauging StationsStream or River Gauging Stations• Stream or River Channelization ExtentStream or River Channelization Extent• Woody Debris AccumulationWoody Debris Accumulation• Size and number of impoundmentsSize and number of impoundments• Shoreline ExtentShoreline Extent• Point Source Discharge LocationsPoint Source Discharge Locations• Non-Point Source Discharge LocationsNon-Point Source Discharge Locations• NPDES PermitsNPDES Permits• Fish Consumption AdvisoriesFish Consumption Advisories• Fish Biodiversity DataFish Biodiversity Data• Mussel Biodiversity DataMussel Biodiversity Data• Game Fish DataGame Fish Data• Location of Aquatic Nuisance SpeciesLocation of Aquatic Nuisance Species

Types of Data - Types of Data - MarineMarine

• Length of Tidal Influence in StreamsLength of Tidal Influence in Streams• Length of Natural ShorelinesLength of Natural Shorelines• Woody Debris in Coastal ZoneWoody Debris in Coastal Zone• Turbidity MeasuresTurbidity Measures• Salinity MeasuresSalinity Measures• Hg Fish Consumption AdvisoriesHg Fish Consumption Advisories• Other Fish Consumption AdvisoriesOther Fish Consumption Advisories• Extent of unaltered habitatExtent of unaltered habitat• Native Fish Distribution Native Fish Distribution • Shellfish DiversityShellfish Diversity• Fish DiversityFish Diversity• Game Fish DataGame Fish Data• Location of Aquatic Nuisance SpeciesLocation of Aquatic Nuisance Species

Overall Habitat Quality Index

Prioritization ToolPrioritization Tool• Map all priorities – Web accessibleMap all priorities – Web accessible

• Two Scoring ToolsTwo Scoring Tools– Individual ProjectIndividual Project– Classified UnitClassified Unit

• Final Social-Economic FilterFinal Social-Economic Filter• i.e. “Worst First” or “Protect the Best”i.e. “Worst First” or “Protect the Best”• Approach – Protection, Rehabilitation or Re-engineeringApproach – Protection, Rehabilitation or Re-engineering

National DeliverablesNational Deliverables

•Recommend National Goals and TargetsRecommend National Goals and Targets

•Coordinate tracking and metrics among Coordinate tracking and metrics among Regional PartnershipsRegional Partnerships

•Synthesize evaluations and scores from Synthesize evaluations and scores from Regional PartnersRegional Partners

•National Fish Habitat AssessmentNational Fish Habitat Assessment

Data AccessData Access• Four Data SystemsFour Data Systems

– State of Fish Habitat Reporting SystemState of Fish Habitat Reporting System– Progress toward NFHAP Goals Tracking SystemProgress toward NFHAP Goals Tracking System– NFHAP Habitat Projects Priorities Data SystemNFHAP Habitat Projects Priorities Data System– NFHAP Restoration Projects Data SystemNFHAP Restoration Projects Data System

• Critical to have a single entity responsible Critical to have a single entity responsible for database hardware and softwarefor database hardware and software

• Oversight for system development and Oversight for system development and operation with initial issuesoperation with initial issues

• Fisheries Database Summit – Salt Lake City Fisheries Database Summit – Salt Lake City 20062006

ScheduleSchedule• National Fish Habitat AssessmentNational Fish Habitat Assessment

– Spring 2007 – Base Assessment SystemSpring 2007 – Base Assessment System– Fall 2007 – First Interim Assessment for Continental U.S. and Fall 2007 – First Interim Assessment for Continental U.S. and

Alaska with only inshore watersAlaska with only inshore waters– Spring 2008 – All possible waters included along with Spring 2008 – All possible waters included along with

Territories and Continental ShelfTerritories and Continental Shelf– 2010 – Complete Full National Assessment2010 – Complete Full National Assessment– 2015 – Second National Assessment and every 5 years2015 – Second National Assessment and every 5 years

• Data SystemData System– Spring 2007 – Database Design CompletedSpring 2007 – Database Design Completed– Fall 2007 – Prototype CompletedFall 2007 – Prototype Completed– Spring 2008 – Implement web-based system for partner useSpring 2008 – Implement web-based system for partner use– Fall 2008 – First NFHAP Project Report and annually thereafterFall 2008 – First NFHAP Project Report and annually thereafter

Process – Steps to ProductProcess – Steps to Product• Transfer “leadership” to NFHAP BoardTransfer “leadership” to NFHAP Board

– Co-Chairs, one for Science, one for DataCo-Chairs, one for Science, one for Data

– Suggest keep continuity between existing & new Suggest keep continuity between existing & new teamteam

– Request the Co-Chairs canvass current members Request the Co-Chairs canvass current members for interestfor interest

– Co-Chairs solicit new members from partnersCo-Chairs solicit new members from partners

Process – Steps to ProductProcess – Steps to Product• Suggested New Charge to Science & Data TeamSuggested New Charge to Science & Data Team

– Complete Science and Data ReportComplete Science and Data Report Complete Peer Review of the Science and Data Report and Complete Peer Review of the Science and Data Report and

integrate comments into the Science and Data Strategyintegrate comments into the Science and Data Strategy

– Develop interim set of habitat goals/targets for the NFHAPDevelop interim set of habitat goals/targets for the NFHAP

– Oversee NFHAP Data System DevelopmentOversee NFHAP Data System Development Begin necessary Database and Data System developmentBegin necessary Database and Data System development

– Oversee NFHAP National Status ReportOversee NFHAP National Status Report Fully develop National Assessment and Decision Support Fully develop National Assessment and Decision Support

ToolTool

Process – Steps to Product, Process – Steps to Product, Short TermShort Term• NFHAP Board Staff – initiate Peer Review ProcessNFHAP Board Staff – initiate Peer Review Process

• NFHAP Science & Data Post-Doc oversight team NFHAP Science & Data Post-Doc oversight team meeting (December 19meeting (December 19thth))

• NFHAP Board – Science/Data Co-chairs locate NFHAP Board – Science/Data Co-chairs locate

database resourcesdatabase resources

• NFHAP Science & Data Committee Meet – Feb 2007NFHAP Science & Data Committee Meet – Feb 2007– Review Peer Review CommentsReview Peer Review Comments– Further develop guidance for assessment reportFurther develop guidance for assessment report– Develop Interim Goals/TargetsDevelop Interim Goals/Targets– Begin Development of Data PilotBegin Development of Data Pilot

Science & Data Team Science & Data Team MembersMembers

• Hal Beecher-WA Game & FishHal Beecher-WA Game & Fish• Zach Bowen-USGSZach Bowen-USGS• Mark Brouder-USFWSMark Brouder-USFWS• Kay McGraw-NOAAKay McGraw-NOAA• Brian Gratwicke-NFWFBrian Gratwicke-NFWF• Jonathan Higgins-TNCJonathan Higgins-TNC• Jim McKenna-USGSJim McKenna-USGS• Doug Norton-EPADoug Norton-EPA• Craig Paukert-USGSCraig Paukert-USGS• Mark Peterson-Southern Miss.Mark Peterson-Southern Miss.• Paul Seelbach-MI DNRPaul Seelbach-MI DNR• Mark Hudy – USFSMark Hudy – USFS

• Stan Allen-PSMFCStan Allen-PSMFC• Chuck Bronte-USFWSChuck Bronte-USFWS• Dwayne Young – US EPADwayne Young – US EPA• Jeff Kopaska-IA DNRJeff Kopaska-IA DNR• Andy Loftus-Loftus Andy Loftus-Loftus

ConsultingConsulting• Susan Molina-FL FWCCSusan Molina-FL FWCC• Dirk Miller – WY Game & FishDirk Miller – WY Game & Fish• Betsy Nightingale-TNCBetsy Nightingale-TNC• Andrea Ostroff-USGS NBIIAndrea Ostroff-USGS NBII• Ryan Smith-TNCRyan Smith-TNC• Jeff Waldon-CMIJeff Waldon-CMI• Michael Doughery – WV DNRMichael Doughery – WV DNR