Implementation of a Science Based Approach to Habitat Conservation in the Ohio River Basin

The ORBFHP has gone through a rapid transition since its inception. Initially, projects were selected from across the Basin in an annual RFP and ranked based on stream miles restored, species benefited, and funding. As the ORBFHP grew and realized this “shotgun approach” would make it difficult to have consequential effects for fish and mussel habitat, we began to pursue a more strategic approach. The ORBFHP began a habitat modeling process and the delineation of Priority Areas through a rigorous science-based methodology. The ORBFHP worked with the other Midwestern FHPs to develop a process which integrated rigorous statistical methods with a GIS interface. Post-modeling methods produced indices of relative natural habitat quality (NHQI) and relative anthropogenic stress (CASI), each independent of the other, for every watershed in the Ohio River Basin. Areas with the highest natural habitat quality and lowest anthropogenic stress were highlighted for protection purposes, while areas with high natural habitat quality and medium to high anthropogenic stress could be selected for restoration. Once this was completed, GIS maps were then generated showing data-derived priority areas within the ORBFHP. This has allowed us to target intensive partner/project/program/funding building efforts and generate top quality projects to address key needs.