There's No Fish in That Stream! Promoting Fish Habitat Conservation Through Biomonitoring and Assessment

Public awareness of native fish communities and habitat conservation can be promoted through biological monitoring and water quality assessments. Monitoring and assessment programs that engage the public increase awareness of the connections between fish, their habitats, causes of habitat degradation, and the health of aquatic systems.  The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency uses fish communities to assess the health of rivers and streams in the State of Minnesota, as part of an Intensive Watershed Monitoring (IWM) plan.  The IWM design involves extensive biological, chemical, and physical habitat sampling within each major watershed, and includes interaction with the public at all stages of planning, sampling, assessment, and reporting.  Linkages between fish communities and habitat conditions are emphasized in the assessment and stressor identification process.  While the regulatory aspects of monitoring and assessment play important roles in fish habitat protection and restoration, the associated public outreach and communication provides another means to promote the same goals.