Watershed Assessment and Evaluation Decision Support Tool | |
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Year
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 |
2008 |
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Proponent
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The Nature Conservancy of Canada |
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Project type
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Governance |
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Project type
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Habitat |
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Project type
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Fisheries |
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FSWP funding source
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Living Rivers |
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Grant amount
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$125,000 |
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Total project value
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$320,000 |
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ID number
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08 PG LR101 |
Location: Fraser River Basin,
The Fraser River Basin above Hope
Project Summary
Purpose
The Watershed Evaluation and Decision Support Tool project will create an online interface for data and technical models needed to support the assessment of threats to aquatic values, and the analysis of alternative management scenarios in order to guide responses to those threats. This project will link data and models from many sources and includes a synoptic overview and assessment of threats to aquatic values found in the study area. Analysis will be facilitated through GIS processing of several datasets to explore their spatial relationships. The Decision Support Tool will enable decision makers to define the current state of aquatic resources within watersheds, explore various management options, and evaluate the threats and examine potential future scenarios.
Method
We will use third order watersheds as analysis units, to which we will attribute salmon species (and their CUs), other aquatic species, river and lake ecosystem types, and threats data to provide basis for analyzing watersheds according to identified scenarios.
1) Assemble and classify spatial data representing critical watershed values including salmonid habitat, water quantity and quality, non-salmonid aquatic biodiversity elements, physical habitat, selected ecosystem services, and where possible, community and cultural values.
2) Host workshops with government agency staff, First Nations, academics, ENGOs, and communities to identify useful data and scenarios.
3) Quantify the effects of human uses to the aquatic realm, including effects of: water extraction; dams and diversions; agricultural practices; forestry practices; urban/industrial development; commercial and recreational fisheries; hatcheries; and invasive species on critical watershed values.
4) Quantify the effects of non-human threats to the aquatic realm, including direct mountain pine beetle effects and associated hydrological impacts on critical watershed values. Assess vulnerabilities of species and ecosystems to climate change to the best of our knowledge.
5) Coordinate with stakeholders and project partners, particularly those identified to have dependencies on this project, to ensure their initiatives are supported by and make use of the outputs of this project.
Expected Outcomes
Results will include a ranking system for watersheds according to greatest salmon values (by species and conservation unit), threats to ecosystems and species, and various watershed attributes such as road density, stream crossings, and water extraction. By making the results accessible online we hope to provide information to governments, industry, and communities for consideration in MBP harvesting plans, industry development, and fisheries activities. The Decision Support Tool will enable decision makers to define the current state of aquatic resources within watersheds, explore various management options, evaluate the threats and examine potential future scenarios.
See also:
http://science.natureconservancy.ca/centralinterior/fraser.php
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