Regional stream habitat and condition assessment in the northeast: Developing consistency and cooperation at a regional scale

We present our work on three initiatives in the northeast to develop consistent aquatic habitat information: 1) The Northeastern Aquatic Habitat Classification (NAHCS), 2) The Conservation Status of Key Habitats and Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Eastern Region, and 3) the Northeast Regional Aquatic Connectivity Assessment Project.  These projects were funded as part of an effort to develop consistent and GIS enabled information about aquatic habitats in the northeastern states.  The products do not override state classifications and condition assessment, but instead unify state approaches and allow examination of regional aquatic biodiversity patterns.  The NAHCS habitat classification is based on a biophysical aquatic classification approach (Higgins et al. 2005) and uses size, gradient, geology, and temperature to define potential natural stream habitat types.  The Conservation Status of Key Habitats and Species Project expands and implements measures developed in NEAFWA's Northeast Monitoring and Performance Reporting Framework. The Northeast Regional Aquatic Connectivity Assessment Project is developing a regional dam database and tools to identify priority river networks and dams that if mitigated will improve system connectivity.  These projects support development of regional landscape scale management strategies and will provide new understandings of aquatic biota, habitat conditions, and priority habitats.