Visual Decision Frameworks –Habitat GIT

1. Visual Decision Frameworks –Habitat GIT Adaptive Management based on annual review. Share progress and address challenges and opportunities Adjust management strategies if appropriate Performance Assessment Goal Factors Monitoring MGMT Strategy Current Efforts/Gaps

2. Fish Passage Adaptive Management based on annual review. Share progress and address challenges and opportunities Adjust management strategies if appropriate Performance Assessment: Two year milestones, 132 miles every two years Goal: Open 1,000 additional stream miles for fish passage by 2025 Target Species: American shad, hickory shad, river herring, American eel, Brook trout Factors: funding, staff, understanding the need and benefits for restoration, landowner willingness, target species availability Monitoring: Miles of stream habitat opened, presence of target species MGMT Strategy: Maximize limited resources, increase understanding of the need and benefits of fish passage restoration Current Efforts: Continue opening stream miles for target species, utilize the Fish Passage Prioritization Tool

3. Wetlands Adaptive Management based on annual review. Performance assessment shared in Spring Adjust management strategies if appropriate, guide planning for the next year Performance Assessment: two year milestones, restore 4,000 and enhance 2,000 acres every two years Goal: Restore 30,000 and enhance 150,000 acres of tidal and non-tidal wetlands by 2025 Potential Target Species: Black duck, Bog turtle, Louisiana Waterthrush, Wood thrush Factors: funding, staff, landowner willingness, understanding need for restoration, technical assistance Monitoring: Annual state reporting on restoration/enhancement accomplishments Current Efforts: improve data collection and reporting, improve process for completing restoration projects, work with BMP verification panel MGMT Strategy: Discuss state priorities, overlay with Black duck habitat, increase technical understanding of factors influencing project success

4. SAV Adaptive Management based on annual review. Determine next steps for SAV management based on success of strategy Review progress annually Performance Assessment: Acreage of SAV relative to goal (% attainment), analyze trends in abundance Goal: 185,000 acres/plant 20 acres per year by 2025 Possible Target Species: Eel grass, Widgeon grass, Wild celery, Sago pondweed, Blue crab, Black duck Factors: Biogeochemical, human factors, protection, climate, funding and research Monitoring: aerial surveys to determine progress toward SAV goal, ground surveys to track progress toward planting goal Current Efforts/Gaps: insufficient water quality/regulation/protected areas, funding, improved site selection/research/technology and stewardship/education MGMT Strategy: SAV strategy outlines new/continued approaches to restoration and protection

5. Stream Health Adaptive Management based on annual review. Share progress and address challenges and opportunities Adjust management strategies if appropriate Performance Assessment: BMP Credits and Benthic IBI, develop a method to track stream health over time Goal: Restore the health of degraded stream habitats by restoring the physical, chemical and biological function processes Possible Target Species: Brook trout, Freshwater mussels, American eel Monitoring: Site visit and evaluations- 2 years after construction and then every 5 years or after catastrophic event Factors: Biology, Physiochemistry, Geomorphology, Hydraulics, Hydrology Current Efforts: FWS/MDE developing guidance checklist based on the stream function pyramid, STAC Stream workshop proposal MGMT Strategy: Developing better guidance on designing stream projects to meet intended outcomes