Reflections of Land Use Impacts on Aquatic Systems

Traditional agency fish habitat programs, for a variety of legitimate reasons, have focused almost entirely on assessments and projects within the wetted zones of lakes and rivers. However, a growing body of science demonstrates the critical need to adopt much broader management approaches that include entire watersheds.  Land use patterns at the local, regional, and national scales all show influence on water quality and biotic integrity.  Programs and strategies that engage land use impacts on water quality, water quantity, and temporal changes to hydrologic processes are needed to effectively protect and restore sustainable fisheries in North American waters. The challenge for the fisheries profession is to effectively operate outside of traditional roles and regulatory authorities to influence land use issues ranging from low impact development in urban settings to targeted best management practices for row crop agriculture.  Fisheries professionals can be more effective by creating stronger networks with other resource professionals to provide the science linking land use to water quality and aquatic biological health that informs decision makers with land use authority and expertise. This presentation examines the two fundamental components of fish habitat – physical habitat and water quality habitat – and calls for greater involvement by fisheries professionals, as shameless advocates for the fish, in watershed scale decision-making.