Author(s): Jennifer Gitt; John Stansbury; Istvan Bogardi
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: A multi-criteria habitat assessment (MCHA) tool is developed to help the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers assess the status and progress of their Missouri River habitat restoration efforts for the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus Albus). The MCHA method uses composite programming which assesses the overall condition of the habitat based on multiple physical habitat indicators. Indicator values were determined and weights were assigned to represent their relative importance. The result obtained from the assessment is a river bend-scale index that characterizes the overall habitat quality and quantity. The method can be used to characterize conditions before and after a habitat restoration project or to compare habitat quality at different sites and across remedial treatments. The assessment method will also be used to identify data gaps and deficient habitat components that require further restoration.
Year: 2009