Effects of Tidal Wetland Restoration on Fish: A Suite of Conceptual Models

Fishes native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh have historically had access to a
complex mosaic of dendritic channels, large tule marshes, floodplains, and riparian woodlands. After the
Gold Rush, that habitat was rapidly and drastically altered, and today several native fish species occur in
record low numbers. Although many other stressors also contributed to population declines, habitat
restoration is a major component of strategies to reverse the trend. Programs such as the Fish Restoration
Program particularly emphasize restoration of tidal wetlands and associated shallow subtidal habitat and
strive to restore and learn in an adaptive management context. Conceptual models, therefore, are
necessary to plan both the restoration and the monitoring and evaluation of restoration actions.