The National Fish Habitat Action PlanThe National Fish Habitat Action Plan– – A National Plan to Conserve Fish A National Plan to Conserve Fish (and Shellfish)(and Shellfish) Habitat Habitat The National Fish Habitat Action PlanThe National Fish Habitat Action Plan– – A National Plan to Conserve Fish A National Plan to Conserve Fish (and Shellfish)(and Shellfish) Habitat Habitat
Kay A. McGraw, Ph.D.Kay A. McGraw, Ph.D.
NOAA Restoration CenterNOAA Restoration Center
Silver Spring, MD.Silver Spring, MD.
Kay A. McGraw, Ph.D.Kay A. McGraw, Ph.D.
NOAA Restoration CenterNOAA Restoration Center
Silver Spring, MD.Silver Spring, MD.
TopicsTopics
● What is NFHAP?
● Why is it important?
● How does it work?
● Science and Data Team – Assessment Tool
● How you can be involved
What is NFHAP?What is NFHAP?
●Nationwide strategy●Voluntary●Science-based objectives●Analyze data on fish (and shellfish) habitat (location and condition) ●Identify priority areas and actions●Apply to both freshwater and marine fish (and shellfish) habitat
●Nationwide strategy●Voluntary●Science-based objectives●Analyze data on fish (and shellfish) habitat (location and condition) ●Identify priority areas and actions●Apply to both freshwater and marine fish (and shellfish) habitat
NFHAP MISSIONNFHAP MISSION
“…to protect, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish (and shellfish) and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.”
Signed on April 24, 2006 by:
Carlos Gutierrez Secretary of Commerce Lynn Scarlett Acting Secretary of the Interior
John Cooper President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
John BaughmanExecutive Vice President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
http://www.fishhabitat.org
The PlanThe PlanAnd shellfish
Why NFHAP? The Problem – Fisheries and Their Habitats are at a CrossroadsWhy NFHAP? The Problem – Fisheries and Their Habitats are at a Crossroads● Oyster reefs are the most impacted of any Oyster reefs are the most impacted of any marine ecosystem in the world (85% loss globally)!! marine ecosystem in the world (85% loss globally)!!
● ~ 90% of native mussel species are endangered, ~ 90% of native mussel species are endangered, threatened, or of special concernthreatened, or of special concern
● 51% of crayfish species are at risk51% of crayfish species are at risk
● 80% of freshwater gastropods are at risk (many extinct)80% of freshwater gastropods are at risk (many extinct)●40% of our commercial and recreational fisheries are declining40% of our commercial and recreational fisheries are declining
● 37% of our freshwater fish species are in trouble37% of our freshwater fish species are in trouble
● High rate of aquatic habitat loss in U.S. and globally;High rate of aquatic habitat loss in U.S. and globally;
● Between 1986 – 1997 a net loss of 644,000 acres of wetlands Between 1986 – 1997 a net loss of 644,000 acres of wetlands
● ~50 – 60% of the U.S. population lives within 50 mi. of a coastline~50 – 60% of the U.S. population lives within 50 mi. of a coastline
● ~ 20% of inland species are imperiled;~ 20% of inland species are imperiled;
● ~ additional 37% are at risk;~ additional 37% are at risk;
●PNW – 80% of known commercial fish stocks in declinePNW – 80% of known commercial fish stocks in decline
● Oyster reefs are the most impacted of any Oyster reefs are the most impacted of any marine ecosystem in the world (85% loss globally)!! marine ecosystem in the world (85% loss globally)!!
● ~ 90% of native mussel species are endangered, ~ 90% of native mussel species are endangered, threatened, or of special concernthreatened, or of special concern
● 51% of crayfish species are at risk51% of crayfish species are at risk
● 80% of freshwater gastropods are at risk (many extinct)80% of freshwater gastropods are at risk (many extinct)●40% of our commercial and recreational fisheries are declining40% of our commercial and recreational fisheries are declining
● 37% of our freshwater fish species are in trouble37% of our freshwater fish species are in trouble
● High rate of aquatic habitat loss in U.S. and globally;High rate of aquatic habitat loss in U.S. and globally;
● Between 1986 – 1997 a net loss of 644,000 acres of wetlands Between 1986 – 1997 a net loss of 644,000 acres of wetlands
● ~50 – 60% of the U.S. population lives within 50 mi. of a coastline~50 – 60% of the U.S. population lives within 50 mi. of a coastline
● ~ 20% of inland species are imperiled;~ 20% of inland species are imperiled;
● ~ additional 37% are at risk;~ additional 37% are at risk;
●PNW – 80% of known commercial fish stocks in declinePNW – 80% of known commercial fish stocks in decline
●Local projects
●Regional strategies and priorities
●National attention and funding
The ConceptThe Concept
Five important lessonsFive important lessons
Address real problems not symptomsProcess oriented Provide increased and sustained investment for long term success Monitor and be accountable for scientifically sound and measurable results Share information and knowledge
Action Plan Objectives
Action Plan Objectives
●Conduct condition analysis of all fish (and shellfish ) habitats within the United States by 2010.
●Prepare a Status of Fish Habitats in the United States in 2010, and every five years thereafter.
●Establish 12 or more Fish Habitat Partnerships throughout United States by 2010.
●Protect all healthy and intact habitats by 2015.
●Improve the condition of 90 percent of priority habitats and species targeted by Fish Habitat Partnerships by 2020.
Developing and
Implementing an Assessment Tool
(NFHAP Science and Data Team)
Developing and
Implementing an Assessment Tool
(NFHAP Science and Data Team)
Historic View of “Habitat”Historic View of “Habitat”
Purpose of the Assessment ToolPurpose of the Assessment Tool
To characterize aquatic habitat condition…
…so the information can be used to make good decisions
….. regarding the protection, restoration, or enhancement of aquatic habitats.
Implementing the NFHAP Assessement Tool
Implementing the NFHAP Assessement Tool
Develop an
assessment
frameworkDevelop an
assessment
framework
Compile and
evaluate
existing
data
Compile and
evaluate
existing
data
Conduct an initial assessment
Conduct an initial assessment
Importance of Assessment to NFHAP
Importance of Assessment to NFHAP
•Comprehensive, objective tool for nation-wide comparison
•Identification of healthy and degraded aquatic systems
•Identification of key disturbance factors
•Scientific information at hierarchical levels for different agencies, organizations
Three Geographic Subdivisions
Three Geographic Subdivisions
Inland
Coastal Marine
Overall Habitat Assessment Tool Plan
Overall Habitat Assessment Tool Plan
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 Appropriate Habitat Measures to Remedy Problems or Apply Protective
Measures to Maintain Condition
Why Classify?Why Classify?
Allows for meaningful comparisons and condition assessmentProvides a context for protection and improvementAllows for experiences and methodologies to be shared between similar systems
Examples—Inland Classification
Variables
Examples—Inland Classification
Variables Regional geology Landforms Regional drainage patterns Biota Climate
Examples—Coastal/Marine Classification Variables
Examples—Coastal/Marine Classification Variables
Depth contoursTidal height e.g.,intertidal,subtidal) Bottom type (e.g., mud, sand, cobble) Salinity regime Biota (coral reef, oyster reef, salt marsh, sea grass, mangrove, etc.)
Focus on Key Processes
(Emergent Properties)
Focus on Key Processes
(Emergent Properties)
Connectivity Hydrology Channel and Bottom Form Material Recruitment Water Quality Energy Flow in Aquatic Communities
Hierarchies of Classification and Assessment
Hierarchies of Classification and Assessment
Freshwater (upland) Habitat -- (Cowardin??)
Process level factors (6) Individual variables
Coastal/Marine Habitat (CMECS– Coastal Marine Ecological Classification Standard)
Process level factor (?) Individual variables
Inland Assessment Framework:Built from basic, spatial aquatic unit
Inland Assessment Framework:Built from basic, spatial aquatic unit
•Mapped for the Nation
•Physical, biological characteristics that can be associated with the unit or surrounding landscape (i.e., catchment)
•Part of spatial hierarchy, so information can be analyzed and reported at different spatial scales
WWF Freshwater Ecoregions
NFH Assessment Basic UnitNFH Assessment Basic Unit
• Available nationwide• Confluence to
confluence stream segments
• Local and network catchment boundaries
• Catchment characteristics (i.e., area, slope, precipitation)
National Hydrography Dataset plus (NHD+)
NFH AssessmentSpatial Extents
NFH AssessmentSpatial Extents
TNC Ecological Drainage Units (EDUs) (244)
WWF Ecoregions (45)
Catchments (2,595,196)
edutnc052907_lower48
finalscorequatile5.urbanscore
1 very low
2 low
3 medium
4 high
5 very high
no EDUs
edutnc052907_lower48
finalscorequatile5.agricultur
1 very low
2 low
3 medium
4 high
5 very high
no EDUs
Agricultural Land Use
Urban Land Use
0 - 20%
21 - 40%
41 - 60%
61 - 80%
81 - 100%
No EDUs
0 - 20%
21 - 40%
41 - 60%
61 - 80%
81 - 100%
No EDUs
Anthropogenic Disturbances by EDU
Anthropogenic Disturbances by EDU
● Urban● Cattle ● Mines● Agriculture● Population● Road density● Total P yield● Imperviousness
edutnc052907_lower48
finalscorequatile5.total
1 very low
2 low
3 medium
4 high
5 very high
no EDUs
Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
No EDUs
Watersheds in Cape Fear River - Piedmont EDU
EDUs in Appalachian Piedmont
WWF Freshwater Ecoregions
Results at Different Spatial ExtentsResults at Different Spatial Extents
Ecological Region Layer
Coastal Assessment Framework Coastal Assessment Framework
North Atlantic Coastal WatershedsNorth Atlantic Coastal Watersheds
CAF Data Sets
CAF Data Sets
Shellfish Harvest Classification Physical and Hydrologic (P&H) Agricultural Census Agricultural Pesticides Use Fertilizer Use Land Use / Land Cover Socioeconomics Population and Population Density Eutrophication Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Pollution Sources
Examples of coastal indicators Examples of coastal indicators
Loss of habitat
Shore line type (e.g., amt. of shore armoring)
Dead zones and low D.O.
Contamination of bottom sediments
Harmful algae blooms (frequency and extent)
Status and trends of commercial fish stocks
Number of species at risk or extinct
CAF Data ExamplesCAF Data Examples●Shellfish growing areas –
Closurespollution sourcesAbundanceHarvest data
●EutrophicationLoss of SAVEffects on fish/shellfishImpacts on human use (swimming, boating, etc)
● Coastal Population and Density
Middle Atlantic WatershedsMiddle Atlantic Watersheds
Land Use—Great South BayLand Use—Great South Bay
Avg. Annual Nitrogen and Phosphorous loads in Chesapeake Bay Watershed (point source discharges—kg/yr)
Avg. Annual Nitrogen and Phosphorous loads in Chesapeake Bay Watershed (point source discharges—kg/yr)
Development Pressure Around the Chesapeake
Bay(and a 40%
increase projected for 2003 -2008
Development Pressure Around the Chesapeake
Bay(and a 40%
increase projected for 2003 -2008
Condition Analysis Condition Analysis Build a Habitat Index based on layered (hierarchal) Individual Habitat Variables that can be improved. Score each Classified Unit against others in the Classification.
Two Scale Scores
Series of sub-scores that can be improved on
0 100
Best Theoretical Possible
Best Currently Available
Help – find your niche
Help – find your niche
http://fishhabitat.org
AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments
●Susan-Marie Stedman, NOAA OHC
●Gary Whelan, Michigan Dept. of Nat. Res.
●Dr. Dana Infante, Mich. St. Univ.
●Dr. Dayong Wu, Mich. St. Univ.,
FinisFinis
Oympia oystersOympia oystersbyby
Cory and Catska Cory and Catska Ench, Ench,
Port Angeles, WAPort Angeles, WA
Oympia oystersOympia oystersbyby
Cory and Catska Cory and Catska Ench, Ench,
Port Angeles, WAPort Angeles, WA