Wyoming Wildlife May 2024 - 37

AQUATIC HABITAT
Wyoming's fishing is top-tier. Much of this is due
to the work of Game and Fish fisheries biologists
and fish hatchery culturists, but a lot of the credit
also is due to another group within the department
- the aquatic habitat section.
This team focuses on protecting and restoring
water, waterways and watersheds. They work on
small-scale and big-picture habitat projects to maintain
suitable habitat for aquatic life and restore
habitats that have been degraded or lost.
Aquatic habitat projects follow a predictable
pattern of assessment, construction and monitoring.
Assessment of a stream habitat includes things
like research into the history of the area, reviewing
historic imagery of the stream, visiting the stream
to collect measurements and talking to stakeholders
about what is going on in the area. The biologists
gather information and data to create a plan, which
could take months or even years. The goal is to
mimic nature and create a long-lasting condition
that addresses past impacts and provides stream
and riparian habitat for the entire community of
critters, including fish.
Along with planning comes fundraising where
biologists form coalitions with partners to write
grants and assemble vital funds for project construction.
And don't forget permitting - all construction
work requires permits to ensure that no
damage is done to the environment.
Once these pieces are in place, the on-the-ground
work begins. Sometimes existing stream structures
are modified, like adding logs to stabilize a streambank
and reduce erosion, or completely new structures
can be created like building a culvert in a river
to allow fish to move more easily when a roadway
blocks their path. After the work is completed,
biologists monitor project sites to judge how well
their changes worked, learn what they could have
done differently and plan for their next project.
Some team members focus on instream water
flow and water rights. They survey aquatic habitats
using equipment including drones, take measurements,
record data and make recommendations
about how changes in flow will affect the system.
Others concentrate on fish passage and water connectivity.
Similar to how big game migrate, fish also
move across large landscapes and are sometimes
impeded. Without sufficient water flowing through
a system, entire sections of rivers and streams can
become uninhabitable for fish and other aquatic
animals. Aquatic habitat biologists work with many
partners including other government agencies,
nonprofits, private landowners and more to find
workable solutions to multifaceted challenges.
" This work sometimes requires dozens of players
Del Lobb, instream flow biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, measures the width of a stream
near Daniel. (WGFD photo)
getting involved and needing to be on the same
page for a project to happen, " said Paul Dey, Game
and Fish aquatic habitat section manager. " This
is a very social, people-skill driven field. Aquatic
habitat work is very collaborative, and we benefit
from having many different people around to help
out and come up with creative solutions to any
number of unexpected problems that come up. "
- Stephanie Estell is the statewide information specialist and
Breanna Ball is the public information officer for the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department.
Wyoming Wildlife | 37

Wyoming Wildlife May 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife May 2024