The use of GIS based modeling to establish basin specific fisheries goals and prioritize restoration efforts in the Penobscot River Basin (Maine, USA)

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The Penobscot River Restoration Project (PRRP) is a multimillion dollar endeavor that aims to restore self-sustaining populations of native sea-run fish through the removal of two mainstem dams and improved fish passage at numerous other dams on the Penobscot River. While many diadromous species will benefit from the PRRP directly, other species such as endangered Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and American shad (Alosa sapidissima) may require additional habitat improvements (barrier removal, fishways, etc.) or stocking. Thus, additional active restoration measures may be required to realize the full potential of the PRRP. Due to the high profile and high cost of the project (as well as the number of State, Federal and non-governmental organizations involved), there is a need to prioritize restoration efforts in the basin to increase the probability of project success. To help facilitate this goal, we created an ecologically-based GIS tool to help establish restoration goals and to identify and prioritize restoration opportunities (stocking options, barrier removal, and fishway improvements). Initial data inputs for the model include spawning habitat for a number of focal species, a habitat weighting variable, and passage barriers (location and passage state). The outputs of the model are ecologically-based targets for the focal species and prioritized lists of restoration projects based on their biological merits. These outputs will help ensure that achievable goals are established, and that funding and restoration efforts are applied in the most appropriate manner.