Winter Steelhead Observations - Internal Ed [ds335]

Winter Steelhead Observations June 2012 Version Please do not distribute. This dataset is made available for internal CDFG use only. The data represented in this dataset are a subset of the data contained in the Aquatic Species Observation Database (ASOD), a Microsoft Access multi-species observation data capture application. ASOD is an ongoing project developed by CDFG Northern Region Environmental Resource Information Services with assistance from CDFG Fisheries Branch and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. ASOD is a project designed to compile as complete a set of statewide inland aquatic vertebrate species observation information as possible. It is the ASOD team's goal not to pre-judge the quality of incoming data, rather to provide enough objective information about the data to enable the end user to make his or her own judgments. This dataset is continually under review by CDFG Fisheries and Habitat Conservation scientists for spatial and scientific accuracy and so is to be considered always a work in progress. This dataset depicts observations of anadromous steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus (O. mykiss) in California. It was developed for the express purpose of assisting with anadromous steelhead management and recovery efforts. For this reason the focus was to acquire anadromous fish sightings. Some observations of resident trout were recorded during the process. For the purposes of this dataset, an observation is defined as a single point in time and space where an observation pertaining to Steelhead/Rainbow trout has been reported. A reported observation may be considered a direct observation. This can be a record of an on-the-ground visual sighting whether the record is documented in a written report or is a recollection of an earlier direct observation. A direct observation can also be any sighting by remote electronic means such as radio telemetry or video camera when the observer is confident in its accuracy. In addition to direct observations, an observer may cite an observation from another party (second hand or greater information), or he or she can make a judgement that O. mykiss are present or likely to be present at a location based upon their own experience or expertise. These observations are recorded herein as "best judgement." Observations made under a variety of circumstances were all included in this dataset in an effort to provide a complete coverage for the state. Every attempt has been made by the developers of this dataset to attribute these observations in such a way that their various types and qualities can be easily discerned by the user. As explained above, this dataset displays point locations indicating where O. mykiss observations were reported, hence it contains positive observations only. No attempt was made to capture every observation of O. mykiss and so it should not be assumed that this dataset is complete for each stream. The information in this dataset should be used only as an indicator of O. mykiss presence/suspected presence at the time of the observation; it does not necessarily verify that O. mykiss are currently present or are consistently present. The absence of point on a stream does not necessarily indicate that O. mykiss do not utilize the stream but rather, it simply means that no observation data have been recorded in this dataset for that particular stream. This is true when we have yet to compile known observations, when observations have not been made or are not known to have been made, as well as when O. mykiss do not occupy a stream. These data were compiled as observation points contributed by various entities throughout the State of California. Source data were combined and reformatted in order to produce a standardized, fully geographically referenced, statewide dataset, the purpose of which is to determine where anadromous steelhead/rainbow trout presently occur or are likely to occur in the State of California. Most of the source datasets were developed by state, local, tribal, and private entities and were designed to meet specific local needs. Datasets were contributed in a variety of formats and in a number of geographic formats including coordinate, linear, and polygon types. Some source data were not geographically referenced but included written descriptions of the observation sites. The depth of detail regarding the species observations also varied. Types of documentation included scientific texts, literature reviews, field survey data, and distribution datasets. These disparate datasets were accepted and used solely for the purpose of documenting species occurrence and they have been attributed as such. Every attempt has been made to accurately represent the information contained in the contributed data. The source of each observation point is included, along with other pertinent details, in the attribute table. The dataset was built solely from observational data: no additional data (habitat mapping, barriers data, gradient modeling, etc.) were utilized to either add to or validate the data. It is very possible that an anadromous observation in this dataset has been recorded above (upstream of) a barrier as identified in the Passage Assessment Database (PAD). In the near future we hope to perform a comparative analysis between this dataset and the PAD to identify and resolve all such discrepancies. Such an analysis will add rigor to and help validate both datasets.

Please read the metadata document completely prior to use of this dataset. Examples of appropriate uses include: - Anadromous O. mykiss salmon recovery planning - Evaluation of future survey sites for O. mykiss - Validating anadromous O. mykiss distribution models Examples of inappropriate uses include: - Assuming absence of a point feature means that O. mykiss are not present in that stream. - Using this data to make parcel or ground level land use management decisions. - Using this dataset to prove or support non-existence of O. mykiss at any spatial scale. - Assuming that the point feature represents the maximum possible extent of O. mykiss range.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.