Habitat Mapping of High Level Indicators at Multiple Scales for Fish and Wildlife

Multi-Scale Approach LEVEL 1: Map area of focus  Floodplain + adjacent upland LEVEL 2: Map projects collecting habitat variables LEVEL 3: Map surrogates for habitat variables LEVEL 4: Focal habitats and focal species

What habitat data to map? LEVEL 1  Map FLOODPLAIN plus adjacent upland habitat in subbasins GIS maps to include: Stream channels FEMA flood plain data layer (100 & 500 year) Riparian Wetlands Roads Upland habitats adjacent ( 1/2 to 3 miles ) to floodplain

Digital Elevation Model Channel data Soils (NRCS hydric soils data) National Wetlands Inventory Other pertinent data How to map floodplain habitat? USE: Current habitat types using existing fish and wildlife habitat mapping protocols MAP: PRODUCT: GIS map with multiple data layers Floodplain delineated (using above data) Habitat types mapped within floodplain and adjacent upland areas

Soil data layer including: Erosion potential Compaction Floodplain gradient Grazing (may have to be surrogate for soil compaction) Agricultural practices/tillage (may have to be another surrogate for soil compaction) Point-Source Pollution sites Additional habitat measures Potential data layers to add to LEVEL 1 map:

LEVEL 2  Map Projects that collect specific Habitat Variables and Enhancements in subbasins Projects that collect or conduct: Water temperature Sedimentation Large Woody Debris (LWD) Fence Installation/Removal Vegetation Plantings Invasive species Control Instream flow Nutrient inputs What habitat data to map? Wildlife Managers should be the leader here!

What habitat data to map? LEVEL 3  Map Surrogates for specific Habitat Variables subbasins Variables – Surrogates: Sedimentation – areas susceptible to landslides, mining locations, recent logged areas Large Woody Debris (LWD) – recent logged areas, and riparian areas with medium to large trees Nutrients – salmon carcass/spawning areas, agricultural land use

Why were these LEVEL 2 habitat variables chosen? Large Woody Debris –Found often in habitat classification systems –Influences other instream elements with high occurrence in classification systems (e.g. pools, riffles) –Included in Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Subbasin Plan (Dec 2004) –Included as habitat actions in NOAA report Temperature –Although not occurring frequently in classification systems (likely this is captured in water quality assessments), a critical habitat element for salmonids and wildlife –Influences other water quality variables, and strongly associated with riparian habitat –Included in Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Subbasin Plan (Dec 2004) Sedimentation –Although not occurring frequently in classification systems (likely this is captured in water quality assessments), a critical habitat element for salmonids and wildlife –Acts as surrogate for turbidity and embeddedness –Strongly associated with riparian and upland habitat and land-use practices –Included in Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Subbasin Plan (Dec 2004) –Included as habitat actions in NOAA report

Instream Flow –Included in Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Subbasin Plan (Dec 2004) –Included as habitat actions in NOAA report Nutrient Inputs –Included in Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Subbasin Plan (Dec 2004) –Included as habitat actions in NOAA report –Associated with riparian and upland habitat and land-use practices Habitat Enhancements –These are part of recorded projects, therefore would be fairly easy to map (i.e. should already be recorded) Why were these LEVEL 2 habitat variables chosen? (con’t.)

Other habitat variables could be added, such as obstructions to fish passage, including: Dams (natural and man-made) Culverts Water diversion structures Large waterfalls Channel gradient Additional LEVEL 2 habitat variables

Photo courtesy of Dr. Richard Forbes LEVEL 4  Map Focal Habitat and Species information in subbasins Components: Big Game Winter Range Focal Species Range Maps Location of Focal Habitats Link Population Information – e.g. Breeding Bird Survey What habitat data to map?

TemperatureSedimentationLarge Woody Debris Riparian Veg. Pools, Riffles, Glides Sediment Sorting Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity Embeddedness Higher Level Indicators Influencing Habitat Variables of Interest Very Fine-scale Variables Fine to Coarse- scale Variables Habitat Mapping Habitat Enhancements Riparian Veg. Upland habitat Grazing Tillage/Ag. Practices Soil erodability Soil compaction Topography/ gradient Recent logging Veg. Planting Recent logging Install / Remove Fencing Effluent (point-source pollution) Veg. Planting Invasive Species Control Recent logging Veg. Planting Invasive Species Control Water withdrawal Roads Nutrient Input Riparian Veg. Upland habitat Grazing Tillage/Ag. Practices Water Quality Recent logging Veg. Planting Install / Remove Fencing Riparian Veg. Instream flow In-stream habitat complexity Instream habitat Invasive Species Control

Upland influences Include a Buffer Strip ranging form ½ mile to 3 miles adjacent to the Floodplain to address direct and indirect influences that may be occurring Upland habitat data could be used to determine desired riparian condition in adjacent areas –E.g. Upland area with clear-cut, compacted soils, high erosion potential, steep gradient  requires greater (i.e. wider) riparian corridor to offset impact

Habitat Mapping Needs Data we have or can get: DEM FEMA flood plain Hydric soils Channels Grazing Some upland habitat types Some coarse-scale physical obstructions Habitat enhancements Data we need: Riparian habitats Wetland habitats Instream temperature Instream sedimentation Instream LWD Fine-scale physical obstructions Point-source pollution Logging Unknowns (potential gaps): Soil erodability Soil compaction Non-point source pollution

Habitat Elements occurring most frequently in Classification Systems The top 1/3 of all habitat elements in each category are: Aquatic Pools Instream coarse woody debris Riffles Channel width Runs/glides Terrestrial Down wood Anthropogenic Water diversion structures Culverts Irrigation ditches/canals Bridges Roads

Habitat Types occurring most frequently in Classification Systems Lakes, ponds, reservoirs and rivers Bays and estuaries Riparian-wetlands Herbaceous wetlands Ponderosa pine & eastside oak forests and woodlands Lodgepole pine forests and woodlands Westside oak and dry Douglas-fir forests and woodlands Westside lowland conifer- deciduous forests

PNW Habitat Classification Systems