Each of our SGCN species will go through assessments to determine species or subspecies status. An assessment is greatly aided by having a database where all participants throughout the species or subspecies' range enters and then updates presence / absence, habitat, and barrier data. The old database was in Access, but the operator for that database moved on and staff after that did not have Access experience. At that point, the database was converted into our Utah ArcGIS format, which allowed biologists to submit updates from the last decade or so (since the last Access data update). And while our ArcGIS format is great and has a mapping component, it's not entirely user-friendly and not everyone was able to update their data. The benefit of moving to the Wyoming GIS (WyGIS) format is three-fold. First, I am told that the system is extremely user-friendly. Second, the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT) data is in the WyGIS format meaning that post-conversion, 99% of all cutthroat trout populations across the state would be in the same database format making assessment much easier. And three, Wyoming has a full-time database manager whose job is to maintain all of the existing databases in their system and help biologists when or if they have problems updating data.

With this funding, we will contract with WYGF to take our Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (BCT) database in its current format and transition that into the WyGIS format. To that end, the objectives are: 1. Contract with Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WYGD) to provide them adequate funding. 2. Review the current format, ensuring that all of the old Access database columns and data made it into the new version. If not everything transferred over, go back and add anything missing. 3. Take the new version of the database, and send it over to WGFD for inputting into the WyGIS system. 4. Review the database in the WyGIS system to ensure proper conversion and functioning.

The BCT team has discussed converting that subspecies' database over to the WyGIS format for about a decade now. From my understanding, the only reason it hasn't happened is lack of funding. If funding had been available, this would have already been done. Given that, there is no time like the present to get it done. In addition, most everyone has updated the database with recent data, but not everyone has and we should do the conversion before all of the data is updated.

The need for a working database is identified in both state and range-wide strategies for the BCT.

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Step 1 -- get a contract in place with WGFD Step 2 -- organize a phone call between database manager, myself, and partner agencies and assign areas for each person to review to ensure that the old Access database and the new ArcGIS database are the same (except for the recent updates) and that nothing was accidentally dropped. Step 3 -- Provide all data in the current database to Wyoming database manager. Step 4 -- Have all partners review the WyGIS database for accuracy. Step 5 -- Have biologists that have not updated data complete their updates in the new system to ensure accuracy and user-friendliness. Step 6 -- Roll out the new database to the team; set up a Google Meet to go through data entry protocol for anyone that needs it.

Biologists will be asked to update data annually, overwinter. Data will be reviewed by BCT members. The database will be regularly updated and all data checked annually to ensure its compatibility with the database.

We will be partnering with Idaho Fish and Game, Nevada Department of Wildlife, and WGFD to complete this work. We will ask them for help reviewing the current version and then checking the WyGIS version post-transition.

WGFD can maintain the database, ensuring software updates, etc. They have quoted us $2500/yr to do this work to start.

An accurate and useful database for BCT allows us to move on from active restoration of the species to maintenance without losing sight of species trends in P/A and abundance. In addition, with the ability to easily complete assessments every 5 years via the database, we can set up trigger points for when a management intervention is needed.

01/13/2025

06/30/2025

2025

Todd and I worked on finalizing the database in fall of 2024 so that we could send the data to the Wyoming GIS Center (WyGISC) as early as possible in the fiscal year. We ended up exporting the data in January and Shannon cleaned up the data, reformatted it and converted every layer except the stream conservation layer (meaning he uploaded the barrier, lake, lake conservation, stream and historical layers into the WyGISC system). Shannon needed very little assistance from us and was able to just work on things on his end. Because he was unable to get through the entire database, we don't have access just yet and we only paid him for work completed (80% of the project--we will have to find the remaining 20% in the FY26 budget). We expect to hear from him this month (August) that the database is completed and that everyone on the Bonneville Conservation Team has access (all names and emails were already provided for viewing access and only those that collect data were granted editing access). And we have all afternoon of the Bonneville Conservation Team meeting in November scheduled to upload data and ensure that we are ready to complete the next assessment.

This project was needed as the prior database formats were clunky, not user friendly, and there was no one really identified to complete the necessary annual maintenance of the system. The WyGISC system is very user friendly and many of the biologists are already familiar with it through the interaction with it for Colorado River cutthroat trout database. In addition, WyGISC has an expert who is paid to maintain it (and should be able to maintain that position even when there is turnover). This was an all around beneficial move that should ensure the continued utility of this database long into the future.

We are currently working on an interstate agreement between Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada for continued maintenance and upkeep of the database. WyGISC has said that it will be $2500/yr for maintenance and all states agree that we should each pay that bill once every four years. That draft of the agreement has it running for 12 years. Because the amount is low, we will find the money in the Salt Lake sportfish budget when it is our turn to pay. In addition to this annual payment, we will continue to work with biologists to ensure regular uploading of new information and that no one ends up years behind in their data entry.