The National Fish Habitat Action Plan

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Under the Action Plan, Federal, state and privately-raised funds will be the foundation for building regional partnerships that address the Nation’s biggest fish habitat problems.

America’s fisheries are facing a conservation crisis. Nearly 40% of North American fishes, 700 species in total, are listed as imperiled. More than two-thirds of these are considered federally threatened or endangered. Habitat alteration is the principle factor in this conservation crisis and is the principle motivation for the development of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP).

This is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms.

By 2010 the National Fish Habitat Action Plan will:

• Assess the condition of all fish habitats in the United States.
• Prepare a Status of Fish Habitats in the United States Report.
• Establish 12 or more Fish Habitat Partnerships in priority areas.
• Fund projects to protect, restore, and enhance priority habitats.

• Protect all healthy and intact fish habitats

By 2020 the Action Plan will:

• Improve the condition of 90% of priority habitats and species targeted by Fish Habitat Partners.

Fish Habitat Partnerships

Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHP) are the foundational or core work units for implementing the Action Plan. To date, 20 FHP’s have submitted letters of intent to seek full recognition by the NFHAP Board and six of them have been formally endorsed by the NFHAP Board over the past two years, since the Action Plan was endorsed in 2006. These partnerships are formed around important aquatic habitats and distinct geographic areas (e.g., Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership,) “keystone” fish species (e.g., eastern brook trout and salmon) or system types (e.g., large lakes impoundments, estuaries.)

The Action Plan envisions support of 12 Fish Habitat Partnerships by 2010. Six regional partnerships are already demonstrating that we can produce real results:

• Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
• Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
• Western Native Trout Initiative
• Driftless Area Restoration Effort
• Matanuska-Susitna Basin Salmon Conservation Partnership
• Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership

In addition, 14 groups have informed the Board they wish to pursue becoming Fish Habitat Partnerships and have been granted “Candidate” status. You can view all of the “Candidate” Partnerships and their locations listed on the map below.

Print Map in PDF Format

10 Waters to Watch

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.

To view the list of 2008 10 Waters to Watch or for more information on the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, please visit www.fishhabitat.org