7832

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7832
• Author: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Title: A Pilot For Long-Term Monitoring Of Resources On The Colorado River In The Grand Canyon Using Geographic Information Systems.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

REPORT NO.2
APPLICATION OF GIS TO FISHERIES DATA BASES IN GRAND CANYON
R.A. Valdez and T. R. Hougaard
BIO/WEST, Inc.
1063 West 1400 North
Logan, Utah 84321
Abstract
The GCES (Glen Canyon Environmental Studies) has coordinated fisheries investigations in the
Colorado River through Grand Canyon since 1982. Significant data were collected under Phase
I (1982-88) and are currently being collected under Phase II (1988-1994); together with historic
data, these provide a comprehensive source of information necessary for operating Glen Canyon
Dam in a manner that minimizes detrimental effects to the aquatic ecosystem. These data were
collected from the Colorado River and its tributaries, and include historic accounts of fish
collections, surveys, and intensive cause-effect investigations. Assimilating this large and varied
volume of information into a usable form is vital to facilitate access and speed analyses that will
provide managers with ongoing, updated, and reliable information that also complements long-
term monitoring and applied research.
The framework for a centralized data base was developed for fisheries resources in Grand
Canyon to bring together historic, recent, ongoing, and future datasets into a digitized field-
specific format with linkages to a GIS (geographic information system). The program is called
the GCFIN (Grand Canyon Integrated) Data base and consists of three phases: (1) identify and
catalogue datasets, (2) identify integration linkages, and (3) identify GIS application.
Introduction
Fisheries resources have been a focal point of the GCES because of the direct effect of dam
operations on aquatic habitats, and because of the presence of sensitive species, including the
Federally endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha) and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus),
as well as State-sensitive species such as the flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis),
bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus), and speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus). The
roundtail chub (Gila robusta), Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), and bonytail chub (Gila
elegans) have been extirpated from Grand Canyon.
The purpose for developing a centralized tabular data base with linkage to GIS was to provide
an integrated and comprehensive set of geographic-based information to aid biologists, resource
managers, and administrators in decisions about the operation of Glen Canyon Dam.
Development of this data base integration program will lead to the following:
1. Development of a consolidated, centralized fisheries data base template.
2. An archival system for endangered fish information, including individual attributes,
meristics, photographs, tag numbers, habitat, etc.
3. Background information for a long-term monitoring program, including past collection sites
for historic distribution and abundance, past and recent population demographics, and
current research needs and data gaps.
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