2014 “WATERS TO WATCH” PROVIDE EYE FOR THE FUTURE OF FISH CONSERVATION Broadly supported conservation efforts to increase fish populations and improve habitat conditions
(Washington, DC) – The National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org) has unveiled its list of 10 “Waters to Watch” list for 2014, a collection of rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes and watershed systems that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance their current condition. These waters represent a detailed snapshot of this year’s locally driven voluntary habitat conservation efforts in progress implemented under the National Fish Habitat Partnership by 19 regional Fish Habitat Partnerships throughout the country.
The objective of these projects—to conserve freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats essential to the many fish and wildlife species that call these areas home—is the foundation of the National Fish Habitat Partnership. Throughout the year, through the work of our partners, these projects will demonstrate how conservation efforts are turning around persistent declines in our nation’s aquatic habitats. Having featured 80 partnership projects since 2007, these “Waters to Watch” are proving that on-the-ground conservation activities and science-based strategies are truly making a difference in improving fish habitat.
“These projects are a model for how fish habitat conservation should be approached.” said Kelly Hepler, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “Often times these projects bring partners together that otherwise may not work together. These efforts are all about working across boundaries and jurisdictions with a wide array of partners involved, working for the greater good of habitat conservation.”
The 2014 “Waters to Watch” list and associated Fish Habitat Partnerships:
1)Bear Creek, Colorado (Western Native Trout Initiative)
2) Boardman River, Michigan (Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership)
3) Eel River Delta, California (California Fish Passage Forum)
4) Lake Bloomington, Illinois (Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership)
5) Milltown Island Estuary, Washington (Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership)
6) Montana Creek, Alaska (Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership)
7) Muddy River, Nevada (Desert Fish Habitat Partnership)
8) Nash Stream, New Hampshire (Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture)
9) Tolomato River, Florida (Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership/AtlanticCostal Fish Habitat Partnership)
10) Twelvemile Creek Watershed, Alaska (Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership)
For more information on project maps and descriptions of the 10 Waters to Watch list for 2014, Visit: http://fishhabitat.org/waters-to-watch/2014
Visit the Waters to Watch Homepage for all of our projects from 2007-2014.
Visit, http://ecosystems.usgs.gov/fishhabitat/ to use our interactive habitat data mapper.
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has been a partner in 417 projects in 46 states benefiting fish habitat. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects. The national partnership implements the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and supports 19 regional grassroots partner organizations. For more information visit:
