Climate Response for Brook Trout, CT River Watershed

This dataset is a component of a complete package of products from the Connect the Connecticut project. Connect the Connecticut is a collaborative effort to identify shared priorities for conserving the Connecticut River Watershed for future generations, considering the value of fish and wildlife species and the natural ecosystems they inhabit. Click here to download the full data package, including all documentation.

This dataset represents the climate response index for brook trout in headwater creeks based on current habitat and current and future climate conditions. Brook trout are a representative species for cool/cold headwater creeks. This layer was derived from a model developed by Ben Letcher and associates at the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Lab. Specifically, this index is the average of the current probability of occurrence and the future probability of occurrence in 2080 (averaged over two future climate scenarios: RCP 4.5 and 8.5), presented as an integerized range from 0 (low) to 100 (high) probability of persistent occurrence.

The brook trout climate response is applied only to headwater creeks, as used in the probability of occurrence model. Note, the brook trout climate response index, as computed, is analogous to the climate response index developed for representative terrestrial wildlife species; it represents the suitability of habitat and climate conditions today and where future climate conditions are likely to remain suitable for brook trout. This index is an input into the selection of core areas in headwater creeks along with the Index of Ecological Integrity.