Salmon Habitat Importance
River and lake ecosystems of the North Pacific Rim (NPR) provide critical habitats for spawning and juvenile salmon (Onchorhynchus spp.) and are neccesary for the production and sustainability of wild salmon populations. Freshwater habitat abundance and distribution is generally poorly defined for the majority of the NPR and is increasingly influenced by human development and climate change, with potentially adverse consequences for salmon. Efforts to design and prioritize effective conservation strategies have been hindered by lack of comprehensive information throughout the NPR, especially the distribution of freshwater habitats and their relative quality for salmon production.
Development of the Riverscape Analysis Project (RAP)
The Riverscape Analysis Project (RAP) is a web-based GIS Decision Support System that was designed to assist in salmon conservation across North Pacific Rim (NPR) Rivers. RAP is based upon a robust classification (typology) of rivers and river habitats which is aimed at mapping habitat quality and abundance, as well as conserving the existing potential production of salmon and the rivers that they spawn and rear in.
Explore Tools
We are sorry, but our tools are currently unavailable. If you are intersted in data pertaining to the Riverscape Analysis Project please contact Diane Whited at diane.whited@umontana.edu
