DESCRIPTION
During this project we continued the cutthroat distribution and water type assessment inventories conducted by Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) between 2003 and 2008 and augmented the existing interactive web-based GIS (developed in 2008/2009) with additional water type survey results. Habitat restoration and protection opportunities encountered during the course of the surveys were identified and the top five opportunities prioritized. WFC used WDNR-sanctioned water typing protocols to conduct water typing surveys. The goals of the project were as follows: 1) protect stream channels which support salmonids by providing data which can be used to make informed decisions 2) document the distribution of salmonids in fresh water systems of the San Juan Islands 3) identify fish passage / water quality problems and restoration/protection opportunities and 4) work with local residents and groups to maintain/improve salmonid habitat conditons. Survey results have been incorporated into WFC’s online interactive GIS and made available to all affected state, local, and tribal governments.
WDNR regulatory (Forest Practice Application Review) water type maps have been widely adopted to regulate development near streams; however, because the regulatory maps are inaccurate, many streams are not identified or receiving the protection they warrant. Mechanisms for checking or correcting the data presented in both regulatory maps and application submittals rely on field verification.