Downloads
- ESRI Shapefiles (line and point)
- ArcMap 10 layer file
Overview
These data layers represent diadromous fish passageways, impediments, habitat, species presence and sampling stations along coastal rivers and in lakes and ponds. The data layers include time-of-year recommendations to avoid impacts to present species and on restoration priorities and actions. Diadromous fish species travel between salt water and fresh water as part of their life cycle.
These five layers were produced and will be maintained by the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), with datalayer name in parentheses:
Restoration Projects
(DF_RESTORATION_PROJECTS_PT)
Restoration Projects refer to diadromous fish passage projects listed in the DMF Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List. The first version of the priority list was prepared as an Excel file in 2005. The 5th version, updated in May 2022, is the data source and Related Table for this GIS feature layer. It contains over 475 coastal river locations where structural features can influence fish passage. The status of each location is described by the attributes below and recommended restoration or maintenance actions are scored to derive rankings for a regional priority list. DMF will update this feature annually, and possibly each 6-months depending on number of location changes. See the DMF memo on the integration of the priority list to the Diadromous Fish GIS datalayer in References for more details (link below). Contact Brad Chase or Kate Frew for more information. Also see the Diadromous Fisheries Project page.
Sampling Stations
(DF_SAMPLING_STATIONS_PT)
DMF maintains sampling stations in different coastal rivers to monitor the migrations and populations of river herring, American eel, American shad and rainbow smelt. This feature layer reports on the location and type of each sampling stations. Users of the GIS datalayer can request site specific data from DMF. DMF intends to link monitoring and water quality data associated with the sampling stations to future updates of the datalayer.
Migratory Habitat
(DF_MIGRATORY_HABITAT_ARC)
Migratory habitat refers to the presence of 10 species of diadromous fish in reaches of coastal rivers in Massachusetts. The migratory data was assembled for the DMF technical report TR-47 in 2016. River reaches are coded based on the occurrence of the diadromous species during their migrations as influenced by their specific life history and ability to pass over various impediments. Appendix B from TR-47 contains this presence information. This was updated during 2020 and coded into the GIS Diadromous Fish Datalayer with the addition of information on sea lamprey and two sturgeon species. DMF will update this feature as needed annually.
Time-of-year source TR-47 - https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/ry/tr-47.pdf
Rainbow Smelt Spawning Habitat
(DF_RAINBOW_SMELT_SPAWNING_HABITAT_ARC)
Rainbow smelt spawning habitat refers to specific locations in coastal rivers where rainbow smelt egg deposition was documented during their spring spawning runs by the DMF technical report TR-30 (2006). Field observations recorded the latitude/longitude for the upstream and downstream limit of smelt egg deposition for Gulf of Maine coastal rivers. These data are not available for Buzzards Bay where smelt presence was assigned in Appendix B of TR-47 based on historical documents.
Source TR-30 - https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/no/tr30-smelt-spawning-habitat.pdf
River Herring Spawning and Nursery Habitat
(DF_RIVER HERRING_SPAWNING_NURSERY_HABITAT_POLY)
The ponds and lakes that have been identified by DMF as providing river herring spawning and nursery habitat are recorded, and color coded as green. Ponds and lakes that river herring cannot access are color coded as red. These classifications were derived from historical documents, and the following DMF technical reports: TR-15, 16, 17, 18, and 47 and river herring habitat assessments conducted under TR-42 and 73. DMF will update this feature annually, and possibly each 6-months depending on number of changes as restoration projects improve passage and access.
Attributes
The DF_RESTORATION_PROJECTS_PT layer contains the following fields:
| RIVER | River name |
| TOWN | City or Town name |
| REGION | Coastal drainage areas where the restoration project is located. Derived from DMF Technical Reports on "A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts", Boston Harbor/North Shore = 1 (TR-18); South Shore = 2 (TR-17); Cape Cod and the Islands = 3 (TR-16); and SE Massachusetts = 4 (TR-15). See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/marine-fisheries-technical-reports |
| WATERSHED | The watershed where the restoration project is located. See the Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List Attribute Table below for list of watershed names. |
| LOCATION_NAME | Location of restoration project |
| LOCATION_STATUS | Location status refers to present condition of location relative to fish passage. See the Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List Attribute Table below for options. |
| PROJECT_TYPE | The Project Type attribute is the remediation recommended by DMF to address the condition listed under Location Status. In some cases, there is more than one possible Project Type. An existing fish ladder that is listed as fishway maintenance could change to a dam removal or fishway improvement project with a change in ownership goals or manifestation of a funding source. The management of the Priority List allow updates in Location Status and Project Type as needed with concurrent adjustments in valuations. |
| LAKE_POND | Associated lake or pond that provides river herring spawning and nursery habitat (if applicable). Project locations occurring in downstream stream channels are labeled "main stem". |
| TARGET_SPECIES | Primary diadromous fish species that would benefit from restoration project |
| SECONDARY_SPECIES | Secondary diadromous fish species that would most benefit from restoration project. |
| RIVER_HERRING_HABITAT_ASSES | Was a River Herring Spawning and Nursery Habitat Assessment conducted (Yes/No, and status of reporting)? Refers to DMF river herring habitat assessments described in TR-42 and TR-73. |
| STREAM_MAINTENANCE_PLAN | Was a DMF Stream Maintenance Plan prepared for the River (Yes/No and status of reporting)? See links in References for DMF protocol and DEP/DMF policy document. See https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidelines-for-stream-channel-maintenance/download and https://www.mass.gov/doc/dep-dmf-stream-maintenance-policy-april-2022/download |
| FISHWAY_O_M_PLAN | Was a DMF Fishway Operation and Maintenance Plan prepared for this location (Yes/No and status of reporting)? |
| WATER_SUPPLY | Is the project location within a municipal water supply (Yes/No)? |
| DAM_HEIGHT | Crest height of location dam in feet, if applicable |
| ACREAGE_SCORE | The scores for this metric are neutral (0) or positive (>0) and increase with the size of river herring spawning and nursery habitat: <5 acres = 0 points; 5 to <10 = 1-2; 10 to <30 = 3-4; 30 to <50 = 5-6; 50 to <100 = 7-8; 100 to <200 = 9-10; 200 to <300 = 11-12; 300 to <400 = 13-14; and >400 = 15 pts. |
| OBSTRUCTION_NUMBER | A negative score is assigned for each barrier in the river system between coastal waters and upstream spawning/nursery habitat. A -1 value is assigned for each barrier with a functional fishway and -2 for impassible obstructions, with the allowance to assign no negative value for highly efficient fishways such as low gradient weir and pool. |
| ACRES | The number of acres of spawning and nursery habitat |
| POPULATION_STATUS | A positive score running from 0 (no run present) to 10 (one of the largest river herring runs in the coastal drainage area) is awarded to sites for this metric. The focus is on river herring, although the population status of other diadromous species can be considered for scoring. Documented records of historical populations can allow the assignment of positive scores of 1-3 despite "no run present" depending on access to and the suitability of migratory/spawning/nursery habitat. |
| STREAM_FLOW | A negative score (-10 to 0) is awarded to sites for this metric based on the ability of the watershed flows to support the different life stages of river herring and other diadromous fish. The sites with the lowest flows (i.e., that are least able to support fish) are given the lowest score. Sites with routinely adequate flows to support upstream and downstream migrations are given a score of zero. |
| PUBLIC_ACCESS | A positive score (0 to 5) is provided for this metric based on the existing or potential of the location to provide public access for river herring harvest (not presently allowed), passive and active recreation and natural resource viewing. Sites with no existing or potential access are given a score of zero; scores increase with the number and quality of potential and/or existing public access sites. |
| WATER_QUALITY | Scores for this metric decrease from 0 to -7 as water quality decreases. Sites with a score of 0 have water quality that is considered adequate for spawning and nursery habitat for the target fish populations. Water quality conditions that do not support successful |
| WATER_USE_CONFLICT | This score ranges from -5 to 0 and decreases as the number or severity of water use conflicts increase. Sites with no known conflicts related to diadromous fish passage or habitats are given a score of 0. Examples of water use conflicts include recreation (e.g., impoundment dams that impede fish passage and water level and outflow maintained for boating, swimming etc.), water supply (e.g., surface and groundwater withdrawals that can influence fish passage), water withdrawals for farming, and flood control operations. |
| PROJECT_FEASIBILITY | This score ranges from -5 to 0 with the lowest scores given to sites with property, structural or community factors that are at odds with project implementation or construction feasibility. |
| ENVIRONMENTAL_BENEFITS | This score ranges from 0 to 5 and increases with additional environmental benefits of a given project beyond improvements to river herring migratory habitat, such as river connectivity, and benefits to other aquatic life, habitats, and multiple species of diadromous fish. |
| EXISTING_FUNDING | This score ranges from 0 to 5 and increases with the degree of funding available to advance the restoration project. A score of 0 is given for sites with no identified funding and a score of 5 is awarded to sites with funding that would fully cover the project through construction. |
| LOCAL_SUPPORT | This score ranges from 0 to 5 and increases with the degree of non-monetary support and interest from public interests, local groups, property owners and Towns |
| PASSAGE | Scores for this metric increase (from 0 to 10) as the severity of the impediment to fish passage increases. Depending on the species present and level of blockage, no obstruction = 0 points; a minor obstruction = 1-3 points; restricted passage = 4-6 points; severe impediment = 7-9 points; and 10 points for no possible passage. A classification of Impaired for a given structure will result in a score of ≥4, and a classification of Suitable will be scored ≤3 for MassDEP applications (see 2022 DMF/DEP memo). If available, a site-specific river herring spawning and nursery habitat assessment will document with repeated field observations the conditions of passage impediments using the impairment list below. 1. Excess vertical rise or grade change |
| COST | Scores for this metric decrease with the magnitude of the project implementation and construction costs: <$10,000 = 0 points; $10,000 to <$50,000 = -1; $50,000 to <$100,000 = -2; $100,000 to <$500,000 = -3 to -4; >$500,000 = -4 to -5 points |
| SCORE RANK | Scoring and ranking values assigned to the 13 parameters are added in the DMF Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List spreadsheet. Scores are then sorted by rank in each of the four regions to generate the Priority List. Locations with completed projects since the first version are listed as Complete under project status and remain on the list but are removed from the ranking. The future status of completed projects can be updated as infrastructure ages and property use or restoration goals change. |
| REVIEW_DATE | The month/year of most recent review of each location by DMF staff |
| PROJECT_STATUS | Present status of project: dormant, conceptual, planning, construction, maintenance, or completed |
| PROJECT_SCOPE | Indicates the present or recent status of whom is leading the project development |
| HISTORY | Relevant history |
| NOTES | Relevant notes |
| CREATIONDATE | Date when station data was added |
| CREATOR | Staff name for original entry |
| EDITDATE | Date when station data was edited |
| EDITOR | Staff name for station data editing |
| FISH_PASSAGE_STATUS | Partially Impaired - Fish passage possible with partial impairment, Fully Impaired - Fish passage not possible. No Impairment - Suitable fish passage. |
| POINT_X | Longitude |
| POINT_Y | Latitude |
Valuation Parameters: All Valuation Parameters are scored based on the Best Professional Judgement (BPJ) of the DMF Diadromous Fish Project except Obstruction Number and Acreage are numerical. See the Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List document for details.
The DF_SAMPLING_STATIONS_PT layer contains the following fields:
| STATID | Station ID |
| RIVER | River name |
| STATION_TYPE | Station type: Eel ramp, River Herring, Smelt fyke net, YOY eel trap |
| LOCATION | Station location |
| TOWN | City or Town name |
| YEAR_INSTALLED | Date of installation |
| HAS_TEMP_LOGGER | Yes/No flag for temperature logging |
| HAS_WATER_CHEMISTRY_STATION | Yes/No for water chemistry station |
| CREATIONDATE | Date when station data was added |
| CREATOR | Staff name for original entry |
| EDITDATE | Date when station data was edited |
| EDITOR | Staff name for station data editing |
| POINT_X | Longitude |
| POINT_Y | Latitude |
The DF_MIGRATORY_HABITAT_ARC layer contains the following fields:
| NAME | River or stream name |
| ACCESSIBLE | Yes/No flag for public access |
| FALL_RESTRICTION | Fall time of year (TOY) based on TR-47 |
| SPRING_RESTRICTION | Springtime of year (TOY) based on TR-47 |
| ALEWIFE | Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) occurrence |
| BLUEBACK_HERRING | Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) occurrence |
| RAINBOW_SMELT | Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) occurrence |
| AMERICAN_EEL | American eel (Anguilla anguilla) occurrence |
| WHITE_PERCH | White perch (Morone americana) occurrence |
| ATLANTIC_TOMCOD | Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) occurrence |
| SEA_LAMPREY | Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) occurrence |
| SHORT_NOSE_STURGEON | Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) occurrence |
| ATLANTIC_STURGEON | Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) occurrence |
| AMERICAN_SHAD | American shad (Alosa sapidissima) occurrence |
| CREATIONDATE | Date when station data was added |
| CREATOR | Staff name for original entry |
| EDITDATE | Date when station data was edited |
| EDITOR | Staff name for station data editing |
The DF_RAINBOW_SMELT_SPAWNING_HABITAT_ARC layer contains the following fields:
| RIVER | River name |
| FISH_SPECIES | Diadromous fish name (presently on rainbow smelt documented) |
| DOWNSTREAM_LATITUDE | Latitude of documented downstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| DOWNSTREAM_LONGITUDE | Longitude of documented downstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| DOWNSTREAM_LANDMARK | Stream bank landmark at downstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| UPSTREAM_LATITUDE | Latitude of documented upstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| UPSTREAM_LONGITUDE | Longitude of documented upstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| UPSTREAM_LANDMARK | Stream bank landmark at upstream limit of smelt egg deposition |
| CITATION | All data presently cited with TR-30 |
| CREATIONDATE | Date when station data was added |
| CREATOR | Staff name for original entry |
| EDITDATE | Date when station data was edited |
| EDITOR | Staff name for station data editing |
The DF_RIVER_HERRING_SPAWNING_NURSERY_HABITAT_POLY layer contains the following fields:
| NAME | Lake or pond name |
| ACCESSIBLE | Yes/No flag for public access |
| FALL_RESTRICTION | Fall TOY based on TR-47 |
| SPRING_RESTRICTION | Spring TOY based on TR-47 |
| CREATIONDATE | Date when station data was added |
| CREATOR | Staff name for original entry |
| EDITDATE | Date when station data was edited |
| EDITOR | Staff name for station data editing |
References
- Chase, B.C. 2006. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) spawning habitat on the Gulf of Maine Coast of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Technical Report TR-30. https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/no/tr30-smelt-spawning-habitat.pdf
- Chase, B.C. 2010. Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) for Water Quality Measurements Conducted for Diadromous Fish Habitat Monitoring. Version 1.0, 2008-2012. Mass. Div. of Mar. Fish Tech. Report No. TR-42. https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/tm/tr-42.pdf
- Chase, B. C., J. J. Sheppard, B. I. Gahagan, and S. M. Turner. 2020. Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) for Water Quality Measurements for Diadromous Fish Monitoring, Version 2.0. Mass. Div. Mar. Fish., Tech. Report No. TR-73. https://www.mass.gov/doc/tr-73-quality-assurance-program-plan-qapp-for-water-quality-measurements-for-diadromous-fish-monitoring/download
- Evans, N.T., K. H. Ford, B. C. Chase, and J. J. Sheppard. 2011. Recommended Time of Year Restrictions (TOYs) for Coastal Alteration Projects to Protect Marine Fisheries Resources in Massachusetts. Mass. Div. Mar. Fish., Tech. Rep. TR-47. https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/ry/tr-47.pdf
- Reback, K.E., P.D. Brady, K.D. McLauglin, and C.G. Milliken. 2004a. A survey of anadromous fish passage in coastal Massachusetts: Part 1. Southeastern Massachusetts. Mass. Div. of Mar. Fish., Tech. Report No. TR-15. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/marine-fisheries-technical-reports
- Reback, K.E., P.D. Brady, K.D. McLauglin, and C.G. Milliken. 2004b. A survey of anadromous fish passage in coastal Massachusetts: Part 2. Cape Cod and the Islands. Mass. Div. of Mar. Fish., Tech. Report No. TR-16.
- Reback, K.E., P.D. Brady, K.D. McLauglin, and C.G. Milliken. 2005a. A survey of anadromous fish passage in coastal Massachusetts: Part 3. South Coastal. Mass. Div. of Mar. Fish., Tech. Report No. TR-17.
- Reback, K.E., P.D. Brady, K.D. McLauglin, and C.G. Milliken. 2005b. A survey of anadromous fish passage in coastal Massachusetts: Part 4. Boston and North Coastal. Mass. Div. of Mar. Fish., Tech. Report No. TR-18.
Memoranda
- DMF Stream Maintenance Protocols for Diadromous Fish Passage, 2016. https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidelines-for-stream-channel-maintenance/download
- DEP/DMF Stream Maintenance Policy, 2022. https://www.mass.gov/doc/dep-dmf-stream-maintenance-policy-april-2022/download
- DMF Memorandum on Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List and Geographic Information System Datalayer, July 2022. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/diadromous-fisheries-project
Maintenance
DMF staff will update the data as needed on a yearly basis. Contact Brad Chase or Kate Frew for more information.