Aquatic invasive species are often transported between water
bodies on boats or boat trailers. Thus, contaminated boats and boat trailers are
considered one of the primary vectors for introduction of invasive species into
a new water body. This data set was compiled in response to a funding grant from
the Bonneville Power Administration Technology Innovation group (Cooperative
agreement #59650, Technology Innovation Project #276) to provide a GIS layer of
river access points (boat ramps) within the Columbia and Snake Rivers and water
bodies throughout the Columbia River Basin. This work builds on an earlier body
of work by Wells et al. 2010, Prioritizing Zebra and Quagga Mussel Monitoring in
the Columbia River Basin, also funded by the Bonneville Power Administration
Technology Innovation group (contract # 00003373), which provided much of the
past water quality, use information, and categorical values for the risk of
introduction and the risk of establishment (referred to as risk assessment data)
of zebra and quagga mussels for a water body. Updated information has been added
by collecting additional data on use of water bodies, as well as combined
categorical ranking methodology for identifying water bodies that may be high
risk for both introduction and establishment of zebra and quagga mussels. This
data set contains geographic positioning system (GPS) locational data for boater
access points, use data (i.e. recreational, fishing), water quality measurements
(e.g. calcium concentrations, pH), risk assessment data, and other physical
attributes (i.e. size, elevation) from their associated water bodies where
available. The GPS locational data was compiled from various resources
(including state, federal, tribal, local governing bodies, etc.) to identify
boater access points along the mainstem Columbia and Snake Rivers and throughout
the Columbia River Basin. Water body data attributes were also compiled from a
variety of resources including state, federal, provincial and local governing
agencies, as well as Tribes, universities, and public utilities, from which
direct data calls were sent for information on monitoring activities, water
quality data, and recreational use information. In addition to these agencies a
variety of websites were used to download reports and individual data items for
water bodies across many different states. A list of websites accessed
throughout the data compilation process is included in the data source inputs
section.