A Landscape Approach for Fisheries Database Compilation and Predictive Modeling

A strong data foundation is needed to inform science-based decisions for fisheries management at a watershed level. In preparation for a shift towards comprehensive watershed-scale planning, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) is developing a fisheries data management system with an initial focus on compiling and formatting several hundred thousand fish survey and stocking records. Fish data will be integrated within a Geographic Information System (GIS) by georeferencing observations to an existing national spatial framework (National Hydrography Dataset), which will allow for broader transferability to watersheds shared with neighboring states, creating a seamless layer not limited by state boundaries. In addition to the ongoing effort and need to synthesize and refine fisheries data and models at the watershed scale, the AGFD has also created landscape-scale species distribution models for 35 fish species as outlined in the Species of Greatest Conservation Need list of the State Wildlife Action Plan. Arizona's landscape-scale species distribution models are also being used in other projects, most notably the Western Governors Association (WGA), Critical Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT). AGFD will also offer neighboring states both the expertise and personnel to create similar models for shared Species of Greatest Conservation Need. This partnership would not only benefit the neighbor state with the creation of SDMs for Departmental need/use, but would also fulfill the need of other projects such as the WGA CHAT's effort.