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) with funding from the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (DLCC) 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.

Project Goals

Produce a defensible data set and decision tool for the conservation of fish and other aquatic and riparian species in Arizona by synthesizing and refining fisheries data and models at the watershed scale, including information on species distribution and abundance and landscape-scale species distribution models. Information collected will be used as part of Arizona Game and Fish Department’s and the Western Governors’ Association Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT) and set the foundation on which managers can assess the impacts of water use, biological invasions, and climate change on biological resources in Arizona. Provide expertise and personnel to New Mexico to create similar models for shared Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Anticipated Outcomes

• Fish distribution layers from FINS database available via AGFD GIS data download website.
• FINS GIS framework data layers (24k stream, waterbodies, and springs/tank point data) available on AGFD GIS data download website.
• Fish data contributed to National Fisheries Data Infrastructure.
• Species parameter database for Species of Greatest Conservation Need shared between Arizona and New Mexico.
• Presentation at Esri GIS International User Conference, Arizona-New Mexico Chapter of American Fisheries Society, National American Fisheries Society Conference, and Desert Fishes Council meeting.
• Journal article.

Related Link

Fisheries Database Compilation and Modeling

Principal Investigator(s): Nicole Eiden (Arizona Game and Fish Department) Dr. Julian Olden (University of Washington) Bill Stewart (Arizona Game and Fish Department)

Cooperator/Partner: University of Washington, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Click here for Fisheries Database and Predictive Modeling AGFD Proposal Click here for Fisheries Database and Predictive Modeling summary