To
develop the strategies to conserve and restore the ecosystem, scientific
information is needed to understand the function of habitat for
supporting the health of fish and bird populations. Information
is needed on the factors affecting the loss of function, and techniques
for conservation and restoration, of these habitats. Information
is needed to address the additional factors, such as disease, affecting
the health of fish and bird populations that depend on these habitats.
There are also concerns that as human population and water consumption
increase in the watershed, there will be decreasing availability
of water to support healthy stream ecosystems.
The USGS science theme “ability of habitat to support fish
and bird populations” is focused to address stream corridors
and near-shore estuary habitats that support fish and bird populations.
The primary objectives are:
- Address the function of habitat to support the fish and bird populations
in stream corridors and near-shore estuary environments;
- Identify the additional factors impacting the health of fish
and bird populations; and
- Synthesize findings, and use forecasts of land-use change
and water availability, to provide implications and improve tools
for conservation and restoration of habitat.