Download Connectivity for Aquatic Organisms in the Southwest Presentation

Aquatic Connectivity in the
Southwest
Yvette Paroz
Southwestern Region Fisheries Program Leader
Mark Reihle, Deschutes NF
USFS Fisheries & Aquatic Resources
155 National Forests & Grasslands, 193 Million Acres
220,000 Miles of Fishable Streams
• Strongholds for ESA-listed and Sensitive
aquatic species currently and under various
climate change scenarios
• FS manages habitat for 62% of ESA-listed fish
and 79% of ESA-listed freshwater mussels
and clams
• Many watersheds suffer from legacy impacts
and need largescale habitat restoration
Problem Statement
• Issues for aquatic connectivity in the Southwest are different
from those areas with anadromous species.
• Many types of species use riparian and stream corridors for
movement.
Problem Statement
• For aquatic species,
streams are the ONLY
route they can use to
move between habitats.
• These same corridors are
also used by non-native
species.
• Suitable habitat may not
be present in all stream
segments.
Habitat Fragmentation
• Habitat Fragmentation is an issue for many aquatic species
depending on their life history and reasons for fragmentation.
• Lack of connectivity has been a listing factor for several southwest
fish species including Colorado Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, Rio
Grande Silvery Minnow, Pecos Bluntnose Shiner, & others…
Rio Grande Silvery Minnow- Dams, Modified Habitat and Dry Stream
Road-Stream Crossing Legacy on USFS Lands
• 375,000 miles of road inventoried
• 50,000 road crossing structures inventoried
• 60%-90% of culverts are impassable to fish species at some flow state
• Stream Connectivity is an aquatic population resiliency, climate change
resiliency and flood resiliency issue
• Stream damage from
undersize or poor culvert
placement.
• However, some culverts
have protected streams
from non-native invasion.
Poor Habitat Can Limit
Connectivity
• Lack of resting or hiding cover,
thermal barriers, water quality,
stream drying.
• Legacy and current effects from
mining, timber, roads, channel
modification, grazing.
• Effects from catastrophic fires and
flooding at a large scale.
Roads and other
management activities
affect the ability of
aquatic and riparian
species to move through
habitats.
Stream Temperature
Major connectivity
factor for salmonids.
USFS Nationwide Focus on Aquatic Connectivity
• In terms of providing resiliency to climate
change, restoring aquatic connectivity is
one of the top conservation actions
nationwide.
• 2015 - A Milestone Year in Reconnecting
Aquatic Habitat: Our Agency’s 1,000th
culvert removed or upgraded for AOP with
Legacy Roads & Trails Funding.
Incorporation of Aquatic Connectivity in Restoration
Projects and Road Networks
•
•
•
Right Size Culverts
Stream Simulation Design or Other Techniques
Lots of resources for technical assistance –
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–
–
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USFS example - National Stream & Aquatic Ecology Center
“Stream Team”
Bureau of Reclamation
BLM
USFWS
Partners/NGOs also have resources
Non-Native Species are a Major Factor Limiting
Aquatic Connectivity in the Southwest
Need for Connectivity for SW Species
• Resilience to Climate Change
• Maintenance of all life history
attributes.
• Genetic diversity.
• Resilience to catastrophic events.
What Can We Do
• Strive for functional riparian
and stream systems.
– Shade
– Hydrologic Function
– Cover for Riparian Species
Instream Habitat
• Provide diverse
instream habitat.
• Provides areas for
resting and feeding
for all age classes.
Instream Habitat Restoration also includes
• Removal/Control of Nonnative Species
• Restoration & Preservation of Native Aquatic Species
– Representation/Redundancy/Resiliency
How Much is Enough? Think Big….it may be
possible.
• Whitewater
Baldy Fire
>300,000
acres.
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
Costilla Creek – Native Fish
and Habitat Restoration
• Upon completion, this project
will restore RGCT and the native
fish community to over 150
miles of stream habitat, 25
lakes, and Costilla Reservoir in
the Rio Costilla watershed.
• Opportunities for adfluvial life
history expression for Rio
Grande Cutthroat trout.
Costilla Creek – Native Fish
and Habitat Restoration
• Partnering projects include large
scale meadow restoration and
other watershed projects in
Comanche Creek.
• Diverse group of partners –
Genetic Diversity - Gila Native Fish
Example
Genetic Effects
2012
2011
2013
•
Genetic methods
– 9-10 msat loci per
species
•
Genetic metrics
– AR, HE, HO: Genetic
diversity
– NeD: # of breeders
– NeV: ∆ allele
frequencies
– FST: Genetic
structure
2010
2011
= Fire
2012
2013
2014
= Sample event
2015
Potential Demographic Impacts of Wildfire
Gila Fish Example – From
T. Pilger (UNM)
# of Breeders
Diversity
(Heterozygosity
& Allelic
Richness)
• Think about multiple scales of connectivity.
• What do we know about the life histories in
the suite of species in your areas.
• Can areas be bigger if we work in multiple
jurisdictions?
• How do we balance between connectivity and
non-native species?
• What are possible solutions where historic
conditions are altered – possibly beyond the
likely ability to restore it?
Take Home
Questions ?