High Resolution Stream Habitat Inventory and Mapping of Middle Brazos and Tributaries

Project Description

High Resolution Stream Habitat Inventory and Mapping of Middle Brazos and Tributaries: Using geospatial tagging sensors mounted to watercraft (kayak/boat), high-resolution (<1ft) geospatial datasets are generated for stream habitats, including substrate, riparian cover, bank conditions, and water quality parameters. Sonar estimates of fish densities can be included.

Conservation Area

Lower Brazos River Native Fish Conservation Area

NFCA Objectives

Project Hierarchy: Moderate (i.e., needs to occur within the next 3-5 years)
Estimated Cost Range: $100,000-$200,000
Project Submitted By: Ryan McManamay, Baylor University
Suggested Contact: Tim Birdsong, Kevin Mayes, David Young

High-resolution habitat mapping provides information on patterns of suitable habitat patchiness, providing more understanding of species sustenance and important scales for restoration (local versus watershed). High-resolution habitat help to prioritize the location and scale of restoration measures and instream flow needs (habitat suitability in relation to flow). It can be used to quantify the quality of habitat upstream of barriers or disconnected from other quality habitats to prioritize restoration of stream connectivity. Maps for the middle Brazos can serve as an example of mapping that can be extended to other NFCAs; however, the efforts should provide beneficial information for protecting and restoring habitat variety of species, including alligator gar, several minnows of genera Hybognathus, Hybopsis, and Macrohybopsis, Notropis, perhaps Blue Sucker, and darter species.

Texas A&M, TNC, TPWD

TPWD, TCEQ, TNC, USFWS Sport Fish Restoration

Project Status

  • Suggested
  • Ongoing
  • Completed

Project Location

Brazos mainstem from Waco to confluence of Little River, including main and smaller tributaries (Big creek, Little River)