Human communities can benefit from improving fish habitat
Citation:
Hoffman, J. AND K. Williams. Human communities can benefit from improving fish habitat. MN American Fisheries Society, Willmar, MN, February 10 - 12, 2020. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.11837121
Impact/Purpose:
Remediation to Restoration to Revitalization (R2R2R) is a framework to identify ecological and policy-based relationships between large-scale aquatic sediment remediation projects, subsequent habitat restoration projects, and waterfront revitalization. In the Great Lakes, a common productive use for these clean-up areas is to convert them to public access, especially for recreational opportunities such as fishing by including fish habitat restoration and fishing piers. Using a Great Lakes case study, we demonstrate how a R2R2R process can create distinct opportunities for engagement with the community, stakeholders, and project implementers to improve community impact.
Description:
Undertaking large-scale remediation and restoration projects in prominent waterfront locations such as city parks provides an opportunity both to improve fish habitat and fishing, as well as to enhance community well-being. However, to consider both opportunities simultaneously, a community-based decision support process is required, particularly to incorporate the knowledge and values of the community into decision-making. Remediation to Restoration to Revitalization (R2R2R) is a framework to identify ecological and policy-based relationships between large-scale aquatic sediment remediation projects, subsequent habitat restoration projects, and waterfront revitalization. The R2R2R framework builds on ecosystem-based management (EBM) theory by addressing the role of humans through feedback loops, and by recognizing the ability of communities to learn and make choices that improve the environment through translational science. In this framework, translating ecological changes from remediation and restoration projects to public benefits (e.g., fishing, boating, swimming) using the concept of ecosystem services is critical to support decision-making. We use a MN DNR-led project supported by the Great Lakes Area of Concern program to illustrate how R2R2R exemplifies EBM for large, complex sediment remediation and aquatic habitat restoration projects, and to illustrate the connection between aquatic habitat restoration and improved community health.
