HWS2018 Habitat suitability modelling results for Fish

Data describes habitat suitability modelling (HSM) results for fish in streams. The data was developed by University of Melbourne through the Melbourne Waterways Research Practice Partnership as part of the development of Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018 (HWS2018). Analysis has been undertaken across the Melbourne Water operating region, where the operating region has been divided into 16,346 sub-catchments. Of these 16,346 subcatchments, 8233 contain Melbourne Water waterways. The results are presented for each of these 8233 reaches for these HWS scenarios:

<ul><li>Current: habitat suitability for fish under current conditions (i.e. 2014).</li><li>Current trajectory: habitat suitability for fish under urbanisation and climate change scenarios if current management approaches continue. </li><li>Target trajectory: habitat suitability for fish given urbanisation and climate change (as for current trajectory), together with (a) delivery of performance objectives of the Healthy Waterways Strategy and (b) achievement of environmental condition scores as described in the Catchment Programs of the Healthy Waterways Strategy.</li></ul>

Results are presented as:

<ul><li>Stacked probabilities, i.e. habitat suitability all 13 native fished species added together. These stacked probability values were used in the HWS to provide a fish value score each reach and sub-catchments.</li><li>Results are also provided for all 22 fish species. Presentation of habitat suitabilty model results for fish from the Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018.</li></ul>



Habitat Suitability Model results have been thoroughly reviewed and are considered fit for purpose (i.e. for waterway planning). This data set covers the entire Melbourne Water region with the exception of very small areas close to Port Phillip Bay or Western Port. For example, there are small areas of French Island which are not captured.



This data set was created using: 1. Streams dataset for the Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018 (developed by GraceGIS using Melbourne Water layers as inputs), and 2. Results from Habitat Suitability Modelling for the Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018. 



Further reading: Chee et al. (in development), Habitat Suitability Models, Scenarios and Quantitative Action Prioritisation (using Zonation) for Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways Strategy: A Resource Document, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water for Melbourne Waterways Research Practice Partnership Melbourne Water (in development), Healthy Waterways Strategy Resource Document



NOTE: Whilst every effort has been taken in collecting, validating and providing the attached data, Melbourne Water Corporation makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Any person or group that uses this data does so at its own risk and should make their own assessment and investigations as to the suitability and/or application of the data. Melbourne Water Corporation shall not be liable in any way to any person or group for loss of any kind including damages, costs, interest, loss of profits or special loss or damage, arising from any use, error, inaccuracy, incompleteness or other defect in this data.

Tags: fish, galaxias, habitat, habitat-suitability-modelling-2018, healthy-waterways-strategy-2018, land, streams, waterways
Organization: Melbourne Water Open Data Hub