A comparison of fish communities between coves of varying connection to Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska

Mason, Brian E.; Wuellner, Melissa R.; Koupal, Keith D.

doi:10.1080/02705060.2022.2133018

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Overall, our case study demonstrates the importance of coves for many species and illustrates a rapid response when connectivity between coves and the main reservoir is reestablished. Periodic maintenance to reestablish connectivity may not only enhance taxonomic richness and diversity but may also lead to improved water quality (Mason 2021). From a recreational perspective, maintaining cove connectivity may allow for boat angling opportunities that otherwise would be lost due to disconnection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such information may be useful for identifying coves that are potential candidates for reconnection via human interventions (e.g., dredging). However, during the study by Mason (2021), all coves that had been disconnected from the main reservoir were reconnected in spring 2019 following above‐average precipitation coupled with abnormally high reservoir water elevations. This reconnection event provided a unique opportunity to explore how cove fish assemblages responded to reconnection with the main reservoir.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has shown that coves may offer unique habitats within reservoirs and can differ in their physical, chemical, or biological attributes in comparison to the main reservoir (Meals and Miranda 1991; Mason 2021). Such differences may support the spawning and rearing of some fishes or unique fish assemblages (Meals and Miranda 1991; Slipke et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Water management within a reservoir may influence the chemical and biological connections between coves and the main reservoir, and connection frequency and duration may differ for each of these kinds of exchanges (Mason 2021). Reservoirs that are constructed for irrigation purposes may experience high intra‐ and interannual variations in water levels, thus exacerbating internal erosion and subsequent sedimentation rates (Miranda 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Resetting the Clock: How a Reconnection Event Reshaped Cove Fish Assemblages in a Nebraska Reservoir

Ruoss

Mason

Wuellner

et al. 2022

N American J Fish Manag

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Coves are part of the mosaic of fish habitats in many U.S. reservoirs, but over time these coves may be disconnected from the main reservoir for varying durations due to the buildup of sediment berms at the mouth that are higher than reservoir elevations. Our 4-year study (2017-2020) of five coves in Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, across three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) provided an opportunity to compare fish communities between coves that have remained connected to the main body of the reservoir and coves that have been intermittently connected to or disconnected from the reservoir over the past 10 years. Further, we were able to evaluate fish community changes in coves following substantial flood events in 2019 that reconnected all disconnected coves to the main body of the reservoir. Taxonomic richness and diversity were lower in the intermittently connected and disconnected coves compared to the connected coves in 2017 and 2018. Only Common Carp Cyprinus carpio were found in the disconnected cove, and Black Bullheads Ameiurus melas were only found in intermittent coves. However, fish communities notably shifted in intermittently connected and disconnected coves after the reconnection event in 2019 and became more similar to those in connected coves. Most notably, species richness in the disconnected cove increased from 1 species preconnection to 18 species postconnection, and two new species (Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris and Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas) were found in at least one cove type during the postflood period that had not been present in any coves prior to the connection. Results from this study underscore the importance of coves as habitats for some species and provide insights as to how fish communities may change when coves are reconnected, whether by human intervention or variations in reservoir elevation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Resetting the Clock: How a Reconnection Event Reshaped Cove Fish Assemblages in a Nebraska Reservoir

Ruoss

Mason

Wuellner

et al. 2022

N American J Fish Manag

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“…When water elevations are lower in any reservoir, some physical structures-especially those along the margins-may become inaccessible to fishes (Daugherty et al 2015;Miranda 2017). Daugherty et al (2015) found that physical habitat, such as coarse substrate and woody habitat, was lost from reservoirs at water elevation changes of between 2 and 4 m. Reservoir coves can provide important littoral habitats for many species (Miranda 2005;Slipke and Maceina 2005) and may constitute one area of reservoirs that becomes susceptible to water elevation changes, as sediment accumulation at the cove mouth may cut off fish access to these habitats (Mueller 1995;Patton and Lyday 2008;Mason 2021).…”

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Assessing Habitat Availability in a Hydrodynamic Reservoir System

Schriener

Koupal

Wuellner

et al. 2022

N American J Fish Manag

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Habitats may become unavailable to fish in reservoirs at different water elevations. Coves are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, as these peripheral zones may become isolated from the main reservoir. Quantifying habitat loss at different water elevation reductions and estimating the cost of replacing specific types of habitat or maintaining a target percentage of total habitat cover can help fisheries managers to plan for habitat restoration projects in reservoirs. We used side-scan sonar to estimate areas of rock, tree, and brush habitat in one cove within Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, and used quotes for materials, placement, and personnel from recent habitat restoration projects to estimate replacement and maintenance costs. Materials included riprap rock, cedar trees, and those needed to construct Georgia cubes. Overall, rock, brush, and trees covered a total of 2% of the cove at conservation pool. Rock habitat covered 10 times more area than brush and 100 times more area than trees. All habitats became unavailable when water elevation decreased by 3.5-4.0 m. The cost to replace each habitat type increased as water elevation decreased, and the total cost to replace all habitat at 3.5 m of elevation loss was US$390,000. The cost to maintain the original area of habitat available in the cove (2% of the total cove area) increased for each type of habitat but only until water elevation decreased by 2.5 m. At this point, the total cost to maintain similar habitat coverage was $219,000. Climatic variability may lead to greater oscillations of water elevations in reservoirs, making the vertical distribution of available habitat even more relevant to management planning. The findings of this study serve as an example for how managers can identify the vertical distribution of available habitats and estimate costs for habitat restorations.

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