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.