Application of Real‐Time Management for Environmental Flow Regimes

Hardy, Thomas B.; Shaw, Thomas A.

doi:10.1002/9781118526576.ch16

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Implementing flow releases to mimic patterns found in natural hydrography in real‐time presents a unique challenge for dam and diversion operations by adding complexity to daily operations, balancing water budgets, and reducing predictability of release schedules (Hetrick, Shaw, Zedonis, Polos, & Chamberlain, ). Techniques are emerging to facilitate real‐time streamflow management based on the hydrography of proximal free‐flowing rivers (Hardy & Shaw, ). Experimental applications of real‐time streamflow management could be used to further our understanding of the benefits of this approach, and additional research is needed to develop methods that can be applied to a broad range of water management scenarios.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing the availability and spatial variation of spawning habitats through ascending baseflows

Goodman

Som

Hetrick

2018

River Research & Apps

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Precipitation in fall and winter is important to recharge aquifers in Northern California and the Pacific Northwestern United States, causing the baseflow in rivers ascend during the time when Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) construct redds.Herein, we evaluate the availability of spawning habitats under a constant streamflow common in regulated rivers against ascending baseflows patterned from free-flowing rivers. A binomial logistic regression model was applied to predict the suitability of redd locations based on physical characteristics. Next, two-dimensional hydrodynamic habitat models were developed at two locations representing a broad range of channel forms common in large rivers. Hydrodynamic and habitat models were leveraged together to simulate the quality, amount, and spatial distribution of spawning habitat at a series of individual flow rates, as well as the combined effect of those flow rates through a spawning season with ascending baseflows. Ascending baseflows increased the abundance of spawning habitat over individual streamflows at a site where the river channel is confined by levee-like features. However, improvements were greater at an unconfined site that facilitated lateral connectivity and greater expansion of wetted channel area as streamflows increased. Ascending baseflows provided spatial separation in preferred habitats over a spawning season, which may reduce the risk of superimposition among runs or among species. Ascending baseflows provided a benefit across the range of hydrologic regimes in a 100-year gauge record ranging from 20% to 122% improvements in habitat area over low streamflows that are currently used to manage for spawning habitat. Although replicating natural flow regimes in managed systems can be impossible or impractical, these results demonstrate that incorporating elements of the natural flow regime like ascending baseflows can benefit the restoration and conservation of riverine species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%