The Status and Trends Program is a statewide inventory effort designed to provide information to address local and regional management issues on inland waters. The program was designed by the Resource Inventory Planning Committee (Hayes et al. 2003) and was implemented in 2002. The major components of the program involve standardization of sampling gear, statistical basis for site selection, and an expansion of traditional game fish surveys to include things such as habitat, water quality, and non-game fish. The lakes portion of the program is coordinated by staff at the Institute for Fisheries Research, and the streams portion is coordinated by staff at the Hunt Creek Fisheries Research Station.

Gear Standardization

Site Selection

The role of IFR staff in the status and trends of inland lakes includes development of methods for assessing shoreline development, macrophyte composition and abundance, zooplankton community composition, and fisheries surveys. In addition, IFR staff are responsible for lake selection, data base development, training, and reporting on the status and trends of inland lakes.