State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
Modeling the Clearwater River Watershed with Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment
The Ecosystems Diagnostics and Treatment (EDT) method provides a practical, science-based approach for developing and implementing watershed plans. It is based on the biological performance of salmon at various life stages and a comparison of suggested historical and current habitat conditions. This method provides landscape planners and forest managers with the technical information needed to develop plans that will achieve their goals. Our goal was to provide guidance for Habitat Conservation Plan riparian validation monitoring. The Clearwater River Basin is being used to test the utility of EDT as a long-term monitoring framework and decision support system. If successful, it will be integrated into research and validation monitoring efforts for the HCP's riparian conservation strategies.
The database for this project was derived from previous studies conducted on the Clearwater River by graduate students and DNR staff. By integrating various data types, a system-wide perspective of potential fish use can be built. Future development of EDT on the Clearwater River may play a major role in the design and placement of riparian validation monitoring sites. Additionally, the data are accessible by other organizations that contribute to conservation of fish and other aquatic or riparian species.
Relation to HCP: Watershed modeling with EDT will develop methods for validation monitoring and produce basic information on the relationships between forest management activities and riparian ecosystems in managed forests
Project Status: Initiated in 2000 and concluded in 2005.
More Information:
Dominguez, L. G. 2006. Predictions of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Population Abundance in the Clearwater River, Washington Using Various Habitat-Rating Scenarios of the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment Method. Master's Thesis. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA.
External link to Ecosystem Diagnosis & Treatment website.