Science Services - WDNR Fish Mapping Application

Partnering with the U.S Geological Survey's Wisconsin Aquatic Gap Program (exit DNR), and other DNR Bureaus Science Services has taken over 100 years of historical fish collection data (formerly called the "master fish file database") for more than 15,000 fish sampling sites collected as far back as 1870 (with 38% of samples collected during 1980 - 2000) and created an interactive fish mapping application.

This mapping application very quickly allows fish managers, researchers, consultants, and the public access to historic fish sampling information collected by a variety of agencies and tribes in an easy to use (exit DNR) geographically-referenced format.

Fishes of Wisconsin Poster
DATCP photo

The goal of the USGS Gap Program is to link fish data to stream valley segments in order to map known and predicted distributions of over 130 fish species (exit DNR) to determine where gaps exist in the protection and conservation of fish species. The Wisconsin effort is being coordinated with other Aquatic Gap projects (exit DNR) so results will be comparable across the Great Lakes basin. The Wisconsin Aquatic Gap project is planned for completion in 2006.

Science Services has also partnered with UW Center for Limnology (exit DNR) and UW Sea Grant (exit DNR) to create a fully interactive fish identification website (exit DNR).

The Fish of Wisconsin poster (shown to your right) is available for a small charge through Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (exit DNR).

Any questions on these projects please contact:
John Lyons