Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN STYLE="font-size:12pt">This database is a synthesis of expert recommendations from fisheries biologists from both Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Division of Fisheries & Hatcheries (MDIFW) and Maine Department of Marine Resources Division of Searun Fisheries and Ecosystems (DMR). The purpose is to rank priority stream networks and individual reaches through each of the state’s subwatersheds for the conservation and restoration of habitat for native fishes. The primary intended use of the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt">Wild BKT Habitat Rating</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-size:12pt"> effort is to identify areas for a variety of conservation actions, such as </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt">land protection strategies</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-size:12pt">, </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt">stream connectivity enhancement</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-size:12pt"> or </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt">instream habitat improvement</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-size:12pt">. Reaches were classified into one of 5 eligible categories: Very High Value, High Value, Moderate Value, Low Value, or NOT Connect. The NOT Connect category identifies stream reaches to maintain barriers to keep invasive exotic fish from accessing native species habitats (e.g. brook trout) in other priority waters. To date, this database has focused on identifying the best current and potential future habitat for Eastern brook trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, Atlantic searun salmon, and searun rainbow smelt. These data can be used to track changes in priority places graphically, to guide restoration and conservation efforts to the highest priority stream networks, as well as identify areas to create barriers to fish passage to maintain native populations against the threat of exotic predatory fish.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN STYLE="font-size:14pt">Data were created from face to face workshops between December 2017 and November 2019 with follow-up remote (Zoom) editing sessions with the biologists after most of the in-person workshops and an additional editing period extending from November 2019 through March 2020 when the biologists used an online tool to mark changes. We expect regular updates to this dataset into the future</SPAN></P><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN STYLE="font-size:14pt">Ranking Process: Regional Biologists reviewed data from past surveys including reel fishing surveys, electrofishing, creel surveys, and personal knowledge of waters going back to the 1960’s. Much of these data are in paper files catalogued by town. The ranking system was developed to ensure we could identify the best sites for restoration and protection knowing that both activities are costly and resources limited. For native fisheries biologists focused on Eastern brook trout (cold-water fisheries), as well as known searun brook trout, Atlantic salmon, alewife waters, and both inland rainbow smelt spawning streams (associated with cold-water sport fisheries in lakes) and coastal streams.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN STYLE="font-size:14pt">These data were collected as attributes added to the High Resolution NHD (1:24,000) https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/national-hydrography/nhdplus-high-resolution </SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: f0f9fe5e157748d68e2781f51c1f9c25
Copyright Text: Priority stream networks were attributed in GIS by Joshua Royte, Senior Conservation Scientist for The Nature Conservancy in Maine through 8 in-person workshops and 4 follow-up remote workshops and then from edits submitted using an online tool developed by Erik Martin, Freshwater Data Specialist for The Nature Conservancy in Maine. The rank designations were made by the following MDIFW Regional Fisheries Biologists: Region A – James Pellerin, Brian Lewis, Nick Kalejs, and Merry Gallagher (Native Fish Conservation Biologist)
Region B – Jason Seiders, Wes Ashe, Scott Davis and Merry Gallagher
Region C – Gregory Burr and Merry Gallagher
Region D – Dave Howatt, Tyler Grant, and Elizabeth Thorndike (note Elizabeth also ranked many subwatersheds with her team and submitted them after the in-person workshop these were edited into the master database by Joshua Royte
Region E – Tim Obrey, Jeff Bagley and Merry Gallagher
Region F – Kevin Dunham, Kevin Gallant, Brian Campbell, and Merry Gallagher
Region G – Frank Frost, Jeremiah Wood, and Derrick Cote
DMR Salmon and Smelt Biologists:
Southern Maine - Paul Christman and Jennifer Noll
Eastern Maine - Ernie Atkinson
Northern Maine - Peter Ruksznis
For Penobscot River and Bay smelt - Claire Enterline and Michael Brown
Overall additional ranking for salmon – Randy Spencer and Norm Dube – retired Maine DMR Alewife, and upcoming entries for American shad, blueback herring, and American eel – Gail Wippelhauser. A MDIFW Fisheries Biologist will also provide data and develop rankings for American eel