Project Title 3, Salmon and Native Fish Habitat Research 
Project Coordination and Resources (9.4 FTEs: MED-1.3, WED-8.1). 
Introduction 
The research described in this project deals with the influence of human activities on aquatic and 
aquatic-dependent biota at landscape, watershed, and regional scales. Specifically, it will 
examine watershed and landscape scale habitat issues affecting salmon and native fishes in the 
Pacific Northwest, and fishes reliant upon Great Lake coastal wetlands. 
Objectives 
• To evaluate and to quantify the influence of human activities at the landscape and 
watershed scales on native fish habitat and fish populations, including wild Pacific 
salmon and economically and ecologically important Great Lakes fishes. 
• To evaluate how habitat spatial structure and connectivity of habitat in stream networks, 
wetlands, lakes, and estuaries influence native fishes, including wild Pacific salmon and 
wetland-dependent fish populations and overall biodiversity. 
Scientific Approach 
Although many aspects of aquatic habitat-fish population relationships have been studied, many 
knowledge gaps exist. Relatively little attention has been focused on the relationships between 
landscape structure and fish assemblages, and landscape structure and aquatic habitat. 
Population declines of salmon and other native fish accentuate the need for the quantification of 
these landscape relationships. In the report. From the Edge: Science to Support Restoration of 
Pacific Salmon^ the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) identified 
science needs for Pacific salmon and related species (CENR 2000). CENR indicated that habitat 
for salmonids and all native aquatic species, and hence their populations, are strongly influenced 
by watershed conditions at a landscape scale. Modeling and decision support tools are required 
to incorporate land use change relative to habitat on the extensive spatial scale, and must 
incorporate temporal changes (habitats are dynamic). 
The research will be conducted in two regions, the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest. In the 
Great Lakes, research will focus on coastal wetland fish assemblages. There are approximately 
200 species of fish in the Great Lakes. It is estimated that about 90% of those species are directly 
dependent on coastal wetlands for some aspect of their life history. Among those species that are 
heavily dependent on coastal wetlands are yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, 
and a number of forage fishes (Jude and Pampas 1992, Brazner 1997). All of these populations 
also have relatively important commercial and/or sport fisheries throughout the Great Lakes and 
all appear to be in decline. Habitat alteration is thought to be the most important contributor to 
these declines, but over-fishing, pollutants, and exotics are also considered important threats 
(Whillans 1992). In the Pacific Northwest, research will focus on wild Pacific salmon and native 
fish. Many of the anadromous salmonids populations in the Pacific Northwest are in serious 
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