Habitat Restoration and Protection
Over the past century, dams, diversions, and other water facilities have greatly altered river, riparian, and wetland habitat throughout the region, contributing to widespread degradation of river health. Historical operation of these projects has contributed to the extinction of many fish species and the listing of others (e.g., pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and some trout) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The goal of the Habitat Restoration and Protection Project is to restore and protect aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitat in critically important river basins.