Definitions

Improve in-water habitat

Increase the amount and condition of physical in-water habitat features used for fish habitat for:

• spawning
• nursery
• rearing
• overwintering
• feeding

Address barriers, connection and flow

Address human-made barriers, improving connection in watersheds and flow for fish passage, access to:

• floodplains
• bedload movement
• nutrient transport

Ensure species at risk and isolated native fish populations are not impacted and aquatic invasive species are controlled.

Improve riparian health

Increase native plants along the water’s edge for:

• temperature regulation
• erosion and flood control
• filtering of contaminants
• input of food and fallen trees for cover

Address aquatic invasive species

Control or eradicate aquatic invasive species that affect fish and fish habitat.

Manage sediment imbalance

Restore natural sediment transport processes and manage sources of sediment to:

• maintain the ecological integrity of aquatic freshwater habitats
• support ecological functions

Other supporting measures

Supporting actions, like:

• stocking and translocation
• aquatic invasive species prevention
• data collection
• scientific research and public education activities related to maintaining or enhancing the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat

Important species

Fish species deemed to be important through literature reviews and engagement. See Restoration goals – tertiary watersheds layer popups for specific important species per geographic area.

Important areas

Geographic areas deemed to be important through literature reviews and engagement (for example, species at risk critical habitat). Important areas mapped by others can be accessed through the Important areas or Context data layers.

Riparian area

Transitional zone along edge of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Characterized by vegetation influenced by the bodies of water.

Good habitat improvement

Positive benefit to fish and fish habitat (for example, small size and magnitude of change for less sensitive fish and fish habitat)

Great habitat improvement

Larger positive benefit to fish and fish habitat (for example, larger size and magnitude of change for more sensitive fish and fish habitat)

Low complexity projects

Minimal technical expertise expected for design and implementation (for example, small scale riparian plantings)

Medium complexity projects

Technical expertise expected for design and implementation (for example, in-water habitat features, shoreline naturalization)

High complexity projects

Technical expertise in numerous fields expected for design and implementation (for example, addressing dams, channel realignments, wetlands)

Implementation type

Indicates the main mechanism or program through which the project is being carried out or funded. It identifies the regulatory or financial pathway that enabled the restoration work.

Status definitions

Under review

The restoration action was submitted to, and is under review by, the DFO team.

Opportunity

This restoration action was reviewed and meets the requirements as a potential offset, habitat bank, and general restoration activity for DFOs mandate.

In-progress

This restoration action project was selected and is currently in the stages of development.

Completed

This restoration action project is done and is no longer available for offsetting, habitat banking, or general restoration projects.

Completed 2019-2025

This restoration action project was completed between 2019 and 2025, and is no longer available for offsetting, habitat banking, or general restoration projects.