We are happy to announce the development of an internet-based application "PAD Review Tool". This tool allows online editing and updating of the Passage Assessment Database, a state-wide inventory of known and potential barriers to fish passage.
Keeping the PAD up-to-date and as current as possible is of a great importance! That is why we developed the online PAD Review Tool that will enable fast, simple and convenient communication between local and regional specialists, on-the-ground experts, and PAD administrators. The PAD Review Tool allows to review PAD records in a map format and to provide feedback and editing comments to the PAD team.
ENTER THE PAD REVIEW TOOL HERE! For the PAD Review Tool Tutorial document, scroll all the way to the bottom of this page.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
In recognition of the importance of California’s once-abundant salmon and steelhead populations, the State Coastal Conservancy, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, have initiated an inventory of existing barriers to fish passage throughout the state. The inventory is to be used to identify barriers suitable for removal or modification to restore habitat connectivity, spawning and riparian conditions for salmon and steelhead and to enhance aquatic and riparian habitat.
The Passage Assessment Database (PAD) is an ongoing map-based inventory of known and potential barriers to anadromous fish in California, compiled and maintained through a cooperative interagency agreement. The PAD compiles currently available fish passage information from many different sources, allows past and future barrier assessments to be standardized and stored in one place, and enables the analysis of cumulative effects of passage barriers in the context of overall watershed health.
The database is set up to capture basic information about each potential barrier. It is designed to be flexible. As the database grows, other modules may be added to increase data detail and complexity.
Data Categories
The set of data categories were chosen to meet the needs of Coastal Conservancy’s barrier assessment program, and were reviewed by the member agencies of the California Fish Passage Forum. Some of the most important data collected about barriers are those related to the location, ownership, structure type, and the degree of impassability – passage status. The database also captures barrier priority within a watershed assigned by the original dataset source if that information was provided. A more detailed description of the database, the data collection procedure and data quality and limitations can be found in the PAD Methodology and Documentation.
A module containing information specific to the DFG's Fish Screen and Fish Passage Program has been added. The Fish Screen and Fish Passage Program (FSFPP) conducts inventories of all screened and unscreened diversions and fish passage problems via site visits; it gathers information on the size and number of diversions at each site and presence of existing fish protective facilities. The FSFPP complements PAD for the Central Valley streams (Sacramento River and San Joaquin River systems).
To standardize data entry sheets for collecting new barrier/stream structure information, the Fish Passage Forum developed a Fish Passage Inventory – First Pass Data Sheet. The one-page form is intended for first pass simple inventories of all types of fish passage problems and it can be used during any other type of stream survey or restoration work.
|
|
|
Figure 1. PAD Records by Structure Types Statewide. |
Geographic Information
Each passage record is assigned a spatial location and can be displayed on a map. The majority of these are points in stream reaches tied to the 1:100,000 California hydrography. In the hydrography, each stream is routed and identified with a unique identification number. PAD site locations are stored as “addresses” along the hydrography, referenced with the stream’s unique ID and their distance from its mouth. This process standardizes the many different data formats that are brought together in the PAD and CalFish (www.calfish.org).
Data Sources
The PAD was compiled using information about fish passage from a large number of sources. These datasets were originally created for a number of different purposes, from general stream habitat surveys to rigorous assessments of fish barriers. The quality of the data in the PAD will vary depending on the data source, including different amounts of detail and varying degrees of accuracy in location descriptions. The complete list of data sources contains currently more than 100 individuals, agencies and organizations. Each data source and related set of documents is assigned an identification number to ensure that it can be easily tracked. Original documents for each passage record are maintained in a library.
Corrections
Feedbacks regarding the accuracy and updates of the data presented here are welcome. Please email or mail any corrections and updated information to:
Martina Koller
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, c/o CDFG Fisheries Branch
830 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 327-3937
mkoller@dfg.ca.gov
|
|
|
Figure 2. PAD Records in California Anadromous Watersheds. Extent. |