Fish Habitat Partnerships

Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHP) are the foundational or core work units for implementing the Action Plan. To date, 21 FHP’s have submitted letters of intent to seek full recognition by the NFHAP Board and 17 of them have been formally endorsed by the NFHAP Board over the past five 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 and has met that objective with 17 regional partnerships that are already demonstrating that we can produce real results, they are:

• Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
• Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
• Western Native Trout Initiative
• Driftless Area Restoration Effort
• Matanuska-Susitna Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership
• Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership
• Desert Fish Habitat Partnership
• Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership
• Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership
• Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
• Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership
• Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership
• Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership
• Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership
• Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat Partnership
• California Fish Passage Forum
  Fishers & Farmers Partnership

In addition, four 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.

View a list of 2010 10 Waters to Watch >>
More information on the National Fish Habitat Action Plan >>