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A Classification System
Used to Qualify Maximum Potential Restored Fish Habitat In Stream Reaches Of
Battle Creek
At the April 30, 1998 meeting of the Battle Creek Working Group Biological Team,
it was apparent that the different members of the team had varying amounts of
experience and familiarity with anadromous salmonid habitat in the Battle Creek
watershed. As a result, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG ) instructed
Kier Associates to construct a table and subsequent graphics depicting anticipated
restored habitat quality in the portion of the Battle Creek watershed potentially
accessible to anadromous salmonids. The resulting table and graphics would be
useful to share professional insights into the restoration potential of the
various stream reaches and would assist the Biological Team to achieve a stated
goal of "prioritizing the restoration potential of each reach by species." It
was further felt that the conservation agencies, including CDFG, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), should
collaborate on the creation of these graphics as these agencies have the regulatory
responsibility to manage fish populations in Battle Creek.
Beginning on May 13, Kier Associates began development of these tables and graphics under the direction of CDFG. Once it was determined that such graphics would be feasible and useful, the underlying data table was shared with NMFS and USFWS, as well as a panel of biologists at CDFG, to solicit comments. On May 19, a copy of the subsequent draft graphics were also distributed to NMFS and USFWS. As of May 22, the three conservation agencies have offered preliminary support for the purpose and need of this exercise but needed more time to review the full body of information. Presentation and discussion of this analysis at the May 26 meeting of the Biological Team will assist the future development of these graphics.
Each stream
reach within the Battle Creek watershed was categorized by professional judgment
using a system of 5 ranks depending on a suite of attributes including restorable
temperature regime, cold water accretions from springs, physical habitat characteristics,
species life history, length of stream reach, stream gradient and past observations
in similar watersheds (Table 1).
The maximum potential restored fish habitat quality in stream reaches of Battle
Creek is presented in Table 2. A series of color graphics
illustrating these results has also been prepared.