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Culverts, fords, and other non-natural stream impediments can limit or prohibit the natural movement of aquatic species within a system. Specific attributes of the stream, the fish community, and the impediment itself are all important to consider when addressing this issue from the management perspective. Recently, forest managers have been tasked with determining which impediments should be replaced on their forests. The selection of impediments for removal is complex, as consideration must be made for ecological, economic, and logistical issues. Each of these factors varies with a specific stream impediment location. The purpose of the project was to develop a prototype decision support system for forest managers that will assist them in selecting specific culvert removal actions that best meet management objectives for operations, biological management, and overall stream health.
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