Watersheds and fisheries relationships: State of knowledge, southwestern United States

Abstract

The relationships and interactions of stream courses, their watersheds, and their aquatic biota have become a contemporary paradigm. Principles and practices of these relationships are generally understood, however, understanding their implications at a landscape scale is embryonic. Because of the threatened and declining status of the native fish fauna of the Southwestern United States, understanding relationships between fish and watershed condition, and the influence of watershed management on stream habitats is critical. The native fish fauna of the American Southwest are low in diversity, unique, threatened and continually declining. The primary objectives of this paper are to briefly state what we know about fish and watershed relationships, define the status of our knowledge, discuss the effects of landscape-level management activities and natural episodic events, and provide recommendations for future habitat, fish research, and management activities.

Parent Publication

• Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ

Citation

Rinne, John N.; Neary, Daniel G. 2000. Watersheds and fisheries relationships: State of knowledge, southwestern United States. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Baker Jr., Malchus B.; Edminster, Carleton B.; Dillon, Madelyn C.; Mora, Karen L., tech. coords. Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-13. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 300-303.