National Fish Habitat Partnership

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.

2019 Waters to Watch

All Waters to Watch

2023 Waters to Watch

2022 Waters to Watch

2021 Waters to Watch

2020 Waters to Watch

2019 Waters to Watch

2018 Waters to Watch

2017 Waters to Watch

2016 Waters to Watch

2015 Waters to Watch

2014 Waters to Watch

2013 Waters to Watch

1. Alexander Creek, Alaska

Project Submission by: The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership

Purpose of the project: Approximately 50 air miles northwest of Anchorage, Alexander Creek Watershed is a remote and slow-moving meandering river system with numerous tributaries and shallow lakes and ponds. It has thousands of acres of adjacent wetlands with side-sloughs and oxbow channels. Originally named a Waters to Watch project in 2015, we are looking at this project in retrospect as elodea continues to be an issue affecting the habitat for Salmon in the lake and returns to the Susitna River. Partners have been working to restore Alexander Creek drainage Chinook salmon numbers in what previously was very productive habitat, and one of the most vibrant Chinook sport fisheries in Southcentral Alaska. This abundant fishery attracted international, national and in-state anglers supported with lodges, daily flight service, and charter boats, providing a boost to the local economy.

2. Amargo Creek, New Mexico

Project Submission by: The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership

Purpose of the project: The Jicarilla Apache Nation (JAN) has enhanced six miles of the Navajo River and now is focusing on its tributaries to further native fish conservation. The Amargo Creek Connectivity and Habitat Enhancement project is restoring connectivity to the middle reach of Amargo Creek with the main stem of the Navajo River, providing habitat for Roundtail Chub, Flannelmouth Sucker, and Bluehead Sucker species spawning, rearing, and foraging activities, as well as, promoting the establishment of healthy populations of Speckled Dace and Mottled Sculpin. This project is the largest possible native fish repatriation area available on JAN lands and will result in an approximate 50% increase in river miles available to the fishes.

3. Coal Creek, Wyoming

Project Submission by: The Western Native Trout Initiative

Purpose of the project: From 2018–2020, the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) is working with the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Interagency Conservation Team and other partners to elevate and accelerate conservation for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in the Bear River drainage by securing partners and the financial resources to implement a portfolio of 12 projects that address aging infrastructure contributing to degradation of riparian habitat, barriers to fish movement, and increased sedimentation. Coal Creek Bank Stabilization and Sediment Reduction Project in Wyoming is one of the projects in the portfolio and was completed in 2018. The success of the Bonneville Cutthroat recovery serves as an inspiration to those working on salmonids across the West. Within the course of four decades, the number of populations in the Bonneville Basin rose from 6 to more than 275.

4. Crews Creek, Georgia

Project Submission by: The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Purpose of the project: This project is located on a spring-fed tributary that drains into Hillabahatchee Creek, which feeds into the Chattahoochee River. Restoration activities will reduce sediment inputs, increase resiliency to alterations of hydrology and protect critical habitat to benefit fish and wildlife populations as well as address 303d impairments on the Hillabahatchee Creek. The portion of the Hillabahatchee Creek is listed as a 303d impaired waterbody from increased nutrient concentrations and fecal coliform. Frolona Farms is a 600-acre multi-generational family farm dating back to the Georgia land lottery in the early 19th century. Previously, the springs and creeks on this property served as water sources for livestock. Lack of fencing and alternative water sources degraded streambanks, destroyed riparian habitat and resulted in significant alterations to hydrologic function.

5. Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico

Project Submission by: The Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership

Purpose of the project: Elephant Butte Reservoir is a 100-year old irrigation reservoir on the Rio Grande River, one of the top ten endangered rivers in the world. The primary purpose of the reservoir is to retain and release water for agricultural and municipal uses. As a result, irrigation releases managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) cause annual lake level fluctuations on the range of 30 vertical feet, destroying all terrestrial vegetation, eroding soils and preventing the establishment of aquatic vegetation. The timing of the releases often disrupts spawning of littoral fish species. Siltation over the life span of the reservoir has degraded what shallow-water habitat that existed in the upper reaches of the reservoir. Recent wildfires in the watershed have further exacerbated the siltation issues.

6. Megler Creek, Washington

Project Submission by: The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Partnership

Purpose of the project: The Columbia-Pacific Passage habitat restoration project is part of a multi-phase effort sponsored by CREST involving three separate tributaries to the Columbia River estuary. The three sites are located within five miles of each other on the Columbia River shoreline in southwest Washington. The sites included in this large-scale restoration effort include Fort Columbia, which was restored in 2010 as part of phase I, Megler Creek, which was restored in 2017 as part of phase II, and Hungry Harbor, which is currently being proposed for construction in 2020 as the third and final phase of the restoration strategy. Restoration is needed in this estuarine reach of the Columbia River because extensive historical alterations of the shoreline to support highway infrastructure have eliminated the majority of off-channel foraging and rearing opportunities for juvenile salmonids along this important migration corridor.

7. Spasski River and Hoonah Native Forest Partnership

Project Submission by: The Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership

Purpose of the project: The Hoonah Native Forest Partnership (HNFP) aims to balance ecological social and economic outcomes by employing an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to watershed assessment and resource planning. Using a science-based, landscape scale, community forest approach to sustainable watershed management, the HNFP works across land ownership boundaries to achieve a measurable and resilient blend of timber, salmon, deer, and other forest products that maintain and improve resource conditions for landowners and local residents. The project area is located in Northern Chichigof Island in Southeast Alaska and is located near the community of Hoonah. It is part of the world’s largest coastal temperate rainforest and supports a variety of fish and wildlife that are critical for the livelihood, culture, and traditions of the Huna Tlingit tribe and local residents.

8. Sullivan Gulch, Oregon

Project Submission by: The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Partnership

Purpose of the project: The primary purpose of the project was to restore fish passage and winter rearing habitat for coho salmon and other native fish on 31 acres of the Sixes River estuarine floodplain at Cape Blanco State Park. Coho salmon are listed as threatened in the Sixes River watershed, and winter rearing habitat is the primary limiting factor to their recovery. Other objectives included: the restoration of wetland habitat for shorebirds and amphibians; enhancement of wildlife habitat for migratory songbirds, small mammals, and elk; and improved livestock management on pasture leased to a local ranching family who raises cattle and sheep. The restoration project was developed by a group of local Stakeholders that included state and federal agencies, the local watershed council and soil and water conservation district, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and the McKenzie Family who leases pastureland from the Park. The Stakeholders saw the project as a great opportunity to demonstrate how watershed restoration and “working lands” (the family ranch) can co-exist on the landscape, and collectively contribute to the heritage and economy of the local community.

9. Tainter Creek, Wisconsin

Project Submission by: The Fishers and Farmers Partnership and The Driftless Area Restoration Effort

Purpose of the project: Trout Unlimited, Valley Stewardship Network (VSN), Vernon and Crawford County, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), Driftless Area Restoration Effort and Fishers & Farmers Partnership are working with farmers and the Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council to implement best management practices to retain sediment and nutrients on the landscape while improving fish habitat for both brook and brown trout. This watershed currently has several projects including upland, riparian corridor, and instream work. Projects include improving streambank stabilization, in-stream cover for trout, cover crops, prairie strips, conservation tillage, rotational grazing, strengthening the farmer-led council, outreach, monitoring, and enhancing angling accessibility.

10. Upper Green Valley Creek, California

Project Submission by: The California Fish Passage Forum

Purpose of the project: This project restored fish passage and stabilized the grade through a 600-ft stream reach of Upper Green Valley Creek (a tributary to the Russian River), resulting in passage for juvenile and adult coho salmon to an additional 4,810 ft (0.9 miles) of rearing and spawning habitat. The Green Valley Creek Watershed has a high potential for salmonid recovery, but sedimentation, channel incision, and fish passage barriers have limited the success of fisheries. This has been illustrated by a documented decline in fish habitat in the Upper Green Valley System by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) and accompanied by a collapse in both coho and steelhead populations.

Waters to Watch