Anadromous Fish Run Site Selection Tool An Example Application: Identifying Restoration Projects for Community-Based Efforts

Anadromous Fish Run Site Selection Tool

An Example Application:

Identifying Restoration Projects for Community-Based Efforts


Site selection is one of the first steps in project planning, followed by site assessment and project design.

This tool was designed to assist with site selection by helping the restoration planner identify restoration opportunities that meet specific criteria.

The following slides demonstrate an example of how the tool can be used to find restoration projects that may

Improve existing fish stocks while enhancing cultural value of historical resources

Be easily accessible for public participation Provide opportunities for education Have low costs


In order to meet these goals, this example will focus on potential projects that are

Likely to benefit herring and shad (existing fish stocks) Located in historical areas (cultural value) Near public lands (accessibility) Within one mile from schools (educational opportunities) Small-sized obstructions to fish passage (lower cost)

Step 1a - Select priority fish species for restoration:Herring and Shad

Step 1b - Select a geographic region of interest:Narragansett Bay and southern Rhode Island watersheds

Preview projects in your region of interest:The tool automatically updates the map and creates a summary report of candidate projects based on initial

selection criteria

Step 2a - Prioritize SOCIOECONOMIC factors:Give highest ranks to restoration projects within…

Suburban and rural areas – Historical DistrictsOne mile of Schools – Close proximity to Public Land


Sub-urban and rural areas – Historical districtsOne mile of Schools – Close proximity to Public Land


Sub-urban and rural areas – Historical districts One mile of schools – Publicly accessible areas


Sub-urban and rural areas – Historical districts One mile of schools – Publicly accessible areas

Step 2b - Prioritize ENVIRONMENTAL factors:Focus on restoration projects with minimal water quality impairments

Step 3a - Weigh all selected factors:

Assign relative weights to each priority

Step 3b - Weigh each class of factors:

Assign relative weights to each group of priorities

Output - View results by SCORE:

Based on selection criteria, several projects in southern Rhode Island may be good candidates for community-based restoration efforts

Output - View results by OBSTRUCTION Size:Projects involving smaller dams (<10 feet high) may be preferred to minimize restoration

costs and keep the project scale reasonable for community-sponsored restoration efforts

Using the Outputs

The results are a prioritized subset of candidate restoration opportunities.

They can be Mapped in the context of other relevant data layers (e.g.,

schools, public lands, historical districts) Mapped based on remediation options and numbers of

downstream obstructions Cross-referenced to the Project Inventory for more

information about each restoration site

The results serve as a starting point for pursuing site-specific information and assessing restoration feasibility.

Documents

Anadromous Fish Run Site Selection Tool An Example Application: Identifying Restoration Projects for Community-Based Efforts