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