These GIS data contain stream reaches that were identified as habitat
areas for the Middle Columbia River Steelhead (STMCR) Evolutionarily
Significant Unit (ESU). These data were used in the critical habitat
analysis conducted by National Marine Fisheries Service's Critical Habitat
Analytical Review Teams. The analysis was conducted as part of the rule
making process for critical habitat. Critical habitat for STMCR is
defined in National Marine Fisheries Service's final rule to designate
critical habitat for 12 ESUs of Pacific salmon and steelhead (2005). The
fish distribution in this data set was compiled from data gathered from
the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Additionally, we received
comments from the public, federal agencies, and state and tribal salmon
co-managers during the rule making process. A detailed description of
this process can be found in the following document: Final Assessment of
NOAA Fisheries' Critical Habitat Analytical Review Teams For 12
Evolutionarily Significant Units of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead, NOAA
Fisheries Protected Resources Division, 2005.
These data were compiled from statewide data sets, public comments, and
the expert opinions of our Critical Habitat Analytical Review Teams
(CHART). On the Washington side of the ESU we started with 1:24,000 scale
fish distribution data from WDFW. On the Oregon side of the ESU we
started with 1:100,000 scale enhanced fish distribution data from ODFW.
The ODFW mapped fish distribution on 1:24,000 scale USGS topographic maps
and transferred the data to a 1:100,000 scale hydrography layer. However,
some of the streams found on a 1:24,000 scale map are not found in the
1:100,000 scale hydrography. These non-matching streams are recorded as
points representing the upper extent of fish distribution. We created new
stream lines for these 1:24,000 scale points.
These data describe occupied and unoccupied habitat areas, as well as
freshwater and estuarine spawning, rearing, and migration areas (i.e.
Primary Constituent Elements or PCEs) identified in the final rule to
designate critical habitat. The distribution of PCEs in these databases
represent the areas where salmon and steelhead have been observed or where
they are presumed to occur based on the professional judgment of
biologists familiar with the watershed. Unoccupied areas were identified
where the CHART determined that the habitat areas may be essential for
conservation of the ESU. However, known of the unoccupied areas were
included in the final rule to designate critical habitat for the STMCR
salmon ESU.
Purpose:
To map salmon and steelhead distribution for use in the rule making
process for critical habitat.
Supplemental_Information:
A full report on the methodology used in the creation of the Critical
Habitat databases can be found in the following documents: (1) Habitat
Distribution for 12 Evolutionarily Significant Units of Pacific Salmon and
Steelhead in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, Northwest Region Protected
Resources Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2005; (2) Final
Assessment of NOAA Fisheries' Critical Habitat Analytical Review Teams For
12 Evolutionarily Significant Units of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead,
Northwest Region Protected Resources Division, National Marine Fisheries
Service, 2005.
Related Spatial Data Sets: (1) Critical Habitat for the Middle Columbia
River Steelhead ESU.