Fish Habitat Benefits from More Than $3 Million in Funding
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide more than $3.4 million to support 84 fish habitat projects in 38 states across the nation under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP). An additional $9.8 million in partner contributions, over $13.2 million in total, will go toward restoring and enhancing stream, lake and coastal habitat, as well as improving recreational fishing and helping endangered species.
The funding is provided for priority projects identified through seventeen Fish Habitat Partnerships established under the NFHAP. The partnerships strategically direct funding and other resources to habitat improvement projects offering the highest long-term conservation returns for aquatic species.
Aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable to changes in climate. Healthy habitats can help fish and other aquatic life to withstand flows and temperatures that have been altered due to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change . Forty of the projects, supported by $2 million of Service funds, will improve stream flow, remove barriers or acquire scientific information needed for long-term protection against the effects of climate change.
"The Service is pleased to work side-by-side with our partners to improve habitat for fish. These projects represent the mutual priorities of broad locally-based partnerships," said Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
More than 40 percent of U.S. fish populations are currently considered declining, half of the waters in the U.S. are impaired, and fragmented conservation efforts are not reversing these declines. Besides climate change, principal factors contributing to these declines include: habitat destruction and fragmentation, toxic substances, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , harmful algal blooms and altered thermal regimes.
By helping stem these declines NFHAP projects provide fishing opportunities for the public, and enhance economies and quality of life in local communities.
Highlights of this year's funding for NFHAP Partnership projects in the Pacific Region include:
Hawaii (Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership) - $40,000 in Service funds and $40,000 in partner funds will restore 3 acres of Hoi coastal wetland by removing non-native species and addressing land-based pollution effects on nearshore marine areas in Kane'ohe Bay.
Idaho (Western Native Trout Initiative) - $21,000 in Service funds and $57,000 in partner funds will reshape, stabilize banks, and treat noxious weeds along a mile of Crow Creek in Idaho, an important project for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout.
Oregon (Western Native Trout Initiative) - $72,000 in Service funds and $184,000 in partner funds will restore instream and shoreline habitat in Deep creek and Crazy Cresh on the Crooked River and will re-open 7 miles of stream to fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Learn more about fish passage .
Washington (Western Native Trout Initiative) - $115,000 in Service funds and $3,257,000 in partner funds will enhance 1.5 of in-stream and shoreline miles and will improve 20 acres of riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat.
For a complete listing of funded projects, please visit: www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/nfhap.
NFHAP is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Under the plan, federal, state and privately-raised funds are the foundation for building regional partnerships that address the nation's biggest fish habitat issues. This comprehensive effort will treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms.
For more information about the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, its partnerships and programs please visit: www.fishhabitat.org