Fish Passage Decision Support System: an Effective Tool for Planning Fish Passage Restoration at Multiple Geographic Scales

The Fish Passage Decision Support System (FPDSS) is a web-based application developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the conservation actions of the National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) and provide management tools for the broader fisheries conservation community nationwide. FPDSS was developed in response to recommendations from multiples agencies, partners and organizations to address the urgent need of a national barriers (i.e., dams, culverts, etc...) inventory and analytical tools to support fish passage conservation efforts. The system significantly improves the decision–making process by using geographic information system (GIS) as a framework for understanding, relating and managing large volume of complex data. As a management tool, the FPDSS facilitate and provides the framework for effectively addressing current and emerging conservation issues such as stream fragmentation, habitat loss, invasive species and impacts due to climate change. As a communication tool, the FPDSS provides a powerful mechanism to create awareness and promote fisheries conservation actions by demonstrating needs demonstrating fish passage accomplishments. The FPDSS is a science-driven approach for making efficient, transparent decisions about where and how to expend resources for the maximum benefit of aquatic species.