The Oregon Natural Heritage Program is working to complete a statewide classification and map of aquatic habitats in Oregon. This is the first step, which is critical to the completion of an analysis of how well aquatic habitats and species are protected in the network of conservation lands. The state of Oregon is investing heavily in mapping the distribution of anadromous fish, as part of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board).

The Aquatic Gap project will use the anadromous fish distributions, the aquatic habitats, and the distribution of other key aquatic elements of diversity (primarily T&E aquatic species, riparian habitats and macro-invertebrate populations) to analyze the status of Oregon’s aquatic diversity. A description of the status and nature of the Oregon aquatic classification is available as a PDF.