CSI-The Conservation Success Index is a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach for modeling the interactions between biological, landscape, temporal, and geospatial datasets in an analytical and predictive process.
CSI can be used as a tool to improve the management and recovery of declining fish populations at the watershed level. When utilized in conjunction with advice from fisheries specialists and conservation experts, the CSI model can robustly support efficient and effective management choices and conservation efforts.
Since 2013, Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) has been working to redevelop the very successful model created by Trout Unlimited (TU) in the USA, to work with southern Ontario watersheds and Canadian data standards. In 2016, a major undertaking began to overhaul the model from scratch using a combination of scripting, coding, and model building in ESRI’s ArcGIS.
Beginning in the Credit River watershed with a partnership with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNFR), the CSI redevelopment resulted in the creation of a high level geospatial model and report for the watershed which detailed Brook Trout population distribution, population and habitat integrity, and future risk assessments. In 2017, this work was expanded to the Sixteen Mile Creek and Bronte Creek watersheds in partnership with Conservation Halton and OMNFR which is near completion. Plans to expand the CSI analysis to other watersheds are being developed for 2018 and 2019.
Special acknowledgment to OMNFR for their continued financial and technical support throughout this project and to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their financial support during the redevelopment work in the Credit River watershed.
CSI helped provide critical Brook Trout information.
Thank you also to CVC and Conservation Halton for their professional, technical and geospatial data support.
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