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ABOUT THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan, codified by Title II of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (PL 116-188), is an unprecedented attempt to address an unseen crisis for fish nationwide: loss and degradation of their watery homes.

Maunalua Bay, Oahu

Purpose of the project: Maunalua Bay is a semi-enclosed coastal waterbody located on the southeast shore of the island of Oahu. As one of the five largest embayments in the State of Hawaiʻi, it is home to a diverse variety of aquatic habitat types, including open coastal waters, a barrier reef, reef crest, extensive reef flats, and boat access channels. Many local residents have strong recreational, cultural, and commercial ties to the bay: the bayfront is lined with Hawaiian outrigger canoe clubs, a boat ramp, public parks, and commercial ocean recreation operations (SCUBA, jet ski, kayak, parasail, etc).

Tularosa River, New Mexico

Purpose of the project: This multi-phased project aims to enhance 5.5 miles of riparian habitat and facilitate watershed and riparian restoration along the Tularosa River in New Mexico. This watershed provides habitat for a suite of native species, including Loach minnow (federally Endangered, New Mexico Species of Greatest Conservation Need (NMSGCN)), Sonora Sucker (Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS), NMSGCN), Desert Sucker (RFSS, NMSGCN), Longfin dace, Speckled dace, Narrow-headed garter snake (federally Threatened, RFSS, NMSGCN), Arizona toad (RFSS, NMSGCN), Common Blackhawk (RFSS, NMSGCN), and Chiricahua leopard frog (federally Threatened, RFSS, NMSGCN).

Shoshone Spring Stream Flow and Brook Reconstruction, California (Retrospective)

Purpose of the project: The Shoshone pupfish is one of the most imperiled species in the Death Valley region due to their natural rarity, historic disruption of their habitat, only one remaining wild population, and genetic consequences of small population size. From 2012-2014, extensive habitat work at Shoshone Spring, including pond construction and nonnative vegetation removal, tripled the number of ponds that Shoshone pupfish occupy, representing a nearly 100-fold increase in habitat area (25m2 to 2400m2).