Standards are an important part of the scientific process and integral to effectively communicating information and concepts. When we discuss "watersheds" or "stream gradient", what do we mean? Without standards, these descriptions would hold little meaning when comparing watershed conditions or describing the distribution of fish based on stream gradients.

The Standards section of the CalFish site offers a series of methods, metrics, approaches, and conventions either directly used by CalFish cooperators, commonly used by fisheries professionals and have become standards over time through repeated use and acceptance by the fisheries community, or are being tested and reviewed for use by the contributor. CalFish cooperators have considered the standards included in this section and while they are not implicitly endorsed, they have been evaluated within the context of their intended use.