Waters to Watch

A list assembled by the nation’s leading authorities on aquatic conservation to create cleaner and healthier habitats for the many fish and wildlife species and people who call these areas home

So what is Waters to watch and why Should I care?

The 10 Waters to Watch list, assembled by the nation’s leading authorities on aquatic conservation, is a collection of rivers, streams and shores that will be cleaner and healthier habitats for the many fish and wildlife species and people who call these areas home.

Thanks to the combined actions of concerned community groups, non-profit organizations, local watershed groups, Native American tribes and state and federal agencies, these waters are being improved by planting stream-side vegetation, removing structures blocking fish from habitat and protecting bodies of water from the effects of industrial processes, agriculture and livestock.

They are representative of freshwater to marine waters across the country including lakes and reservoirs that are improving through the conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan — a bold initiative to reverse persistent declines in aquatic habitat.

1. Bear River Estuary, Washington (Retrospective)

Project Submission by: The Pacific Marine & Estuarine Partnership

Purpose of the project: The goal of the Bear River Estuary Restoration was to rebuild a healthy, functioning natural estuary for anadromous fish including chum, coho, and Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout; migratory waterfowl and shorebirds; and to contribute to the overall health of Willapa Bay. This 500-acre restoration supports local watershed and salmon recovery efforts, migratory bird management and helps to increase the resiliency of Willapa Bay to sea-level rise.

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Topeka Shiner

2. Boone River Watershed, Iowa (Retrospective)

Project Submission by: The Fishers & Farmers Partnership

Purpose of the project: Current and past land-use practices in the Boone River Watershed have affected both stream hydrology and hydraulics. As a result, these effects have degraded and fragmented oxbow habitat and have caused impairments to water quality. Fishers & Farmers partners are working together with landowners to restore oxbow habitat critical to the federally listed endangered species, Topeka shiner (Notropis Topeka). Topeka shiners use oxbows as primary spawning grounds and nursery areas. In addition, aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds also benefit from oxbows to sustain or complete their life histories. Restored oxbows provide natural hydrology by connecting streams with their floodplains, help hold sediment, and provide “filters” to improve water quality. This project will work to create landowner awareness of the Fishers & Farmers Partnership and their partners, provide technical assistance, and educate landowners on the benefits of oxbows to their farm, fish, and wildlife.

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3. Chipola River, Florida (Retrospective)

Project Submission by: The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Purpose of the project: Restoration, Reduce sedimentation, increase water quantity, reduce nutrients and fecal coliform, increase the riparian buffer, and connectivity. The initial project that was nominated a Waters to Watch in 2013 where 1.9 miles of stream bank was enhanced and protected through the removal of livestock from the river, restoration of eroded streambanks, riparian zone planting, and the replacement of a perched culvert. These actions together reduced sedimentation and direct trampling and nutrient inputs to sensitive shoal bass spawning habitat and critical habitat for federally listed mussels.

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Deep Creek Town Diversion

4. Deep Creek - Town Diversion Fish Passage, Oregon (Retrospective)

Project Submission by: The Western Native Trout Initiative

Purpose of the project: Restoring fish passage for Warner Lakes Redband Trout (State and Federal Sensitive species) and Warner Sucker (Endangered Species Act Threatened species) is the focus of this project. The primary limiting factor for fish in the Warner Valley Watershed (Oregon) is passage at irrigation diversion structures, especially on Deep and Honey Creeks. Limited water in the eastern Oregon desert means that Warner Basin streams are a critical water source to both irrigators and native fish. Several Warner Basin streams provide both irrigation water critical to local ranches, and spawning, rearing, and migratory habitat for Warner Basin Redband Trout, Warner sucker, and other native fishes.

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5. Minsi Lake, Pennsylvania

Project Submission by: The Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership

Purpose of the project: Minsi Lake was created for public fishing and boating by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) in 1970 and as one of only two public lakes in Northampton County, is popular with anglers from across the region. Minsi Lake is located in eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, the fastest growing and third most populous region in the state of Pennsylvania, with a population of nearly 822,000 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. In 1975, the 117-acre lake and surrounding 194 acres of woodlands that are owned by PFBC were leased to Northampton County as part of the county’s park system; an amended version of that lease continues to the present day. The 311-acres of woods and waters is called Minsi Lake Park.

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Holy Jim Creek

6. San Juan and Santiago Watersheds, California

Project Submission by: The California Fish Passage Forum

Purpose of the project: Removing dams and other barriers to passage in the coastal rivers of southern California is one of the most important and effective ways to aid in the recovery of endangered Southern California Steelhead (SCS) trout and other threatened species like the Arroyo chub and Arroyo toad. Removing these dams provides benefits up and downstream of the removal site. Barrier remediation improves access to spawning and rearing habitat and restores gravel and sediment transport downstream. Restoring sediment transport has long-range benefits of increasing habitat quality and facilitating sediment transport to beaches and estuaries to prevent coastal erosion. These key ecosystem services far outweigh the relatively low cost of removing these dams and barriers, for example, the headwaters of Trabuco Creek contain high-quality spawning and rearing habitat for endangered Southern Steelhead, so removing these small dams is an important step in preparing for steelhead migration to this habitat upon removal of two large fish passage barriers in the lower watershed.

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Credit: John Heil/USFWS

7. San Luis Obispo Creek, California

Project Submission by: The Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative

Purpose of the project: Pacific Lamprey were once prolific throughout their historical range which stretched from Alaska to northern Baja California. Over time their numbers have significantly declined in abundance and distribution, creating ripple effects to the ecological connections they have with other iconic species and the aquatic habitats we all depend on. Despite being considered the southernmost boundary of the Pacific Lamprey’s distribution, San Luis Obispo Creek boasted a healthy lamprey population when surveyed by biologists from US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Western Fishes in 2004. Unfortunately, a return visit in 2011 resulted in the realization that the population had been extirpated, and a collaborative effort was initiated to answer the questions of why, and whether the population could be revitalized.

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

Project Submission by: The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership

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).

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9. Tularosa River, New Mexico

Project Submission by: The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership

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).

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10. Maunalua Bay, Oahu

Project Submission by: The Hawaiʻi Fish Habitat Partnership

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).

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