Good or Bad?

Coarse particulate organic matter (e.g., tree parts) absent _____

Temperature fairly constant _____

High suspended load _____

Depth fairly uniform _____

Discharge variability high _____

Dissolved oxygen high _____

Groundwater input negligible_____

Riparian vegetation abundant _____

Low nutrient input _____

What fish want

Nature provides

Humans taketh away

(Trout) stream restoration

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

TemperatureDissolved O2

TurbiditypH

HardnessMetals

NutrientsOrganics

SubstrateChannel MorphologyRiparian vegetation

GradientIn-stream cover

SinuosityBank stability

CanopyChannel width/depth

Nutrient availabilitySunlight

Organic inputsPrimary productionSeasonal patterns

VelocityRunoffVolume

Ground waterPrecipitationWatershed

characteristics

DiseaseReproduction

FeedingCompetition

PredationParasitism

Exotics

Many factors determine habitat quality

White and Brynildson (1967)

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Bjornn and Reiser (1991)

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Outside bend Shore eddy

Instream eddyConfluence/seam

Drop-off

Dam or waterfall

Undercut bank

Overhanging vegetation

Raleigh (1982)

Variable Adult Juvenile Larva EggAve thalweg depth % instream cover % pools Pool class % substrate size Ave water velocity Ave substrate size % riffle fines Ave max. temp. Ave min. DO pH Ave annual base flow Dominant subst. type Ave % veg. % streamside veg. % midday shade

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Raleigh (1982)

1) Ave max. temp.

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Raleigh (1982)

1) Ave max. temp.2) Ave min. DO3) Dominant subst. type4) % pools5) Ave % veg.6) % streamside veg.7) pH8) Ave annual base flow9) Pool class10) % riffle fines

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Raleigh (1982)

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Adult suitability

Juvenile suitability

Larval suitability

Egg suitability

= lowest of ave max. temp., ave min. DO, or

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

TemperatureDissolved O2

TurbiditypH

HardnessMetals

NutrientsOrganics

SubstrateChannel

MorphologyRiparian vegetation

GradientIn-stream cover

SinuosityBank stability

CanopyChannel

width/depth

Nutrient availabilitySunlight

Organic inputsPrimary productionSeasonal patterns

VelocityRunoffVolume

Ground waterPrecipitationWatershed

characteristics

DiseaseReproduction

FeedingCompetition

PredationParasitism

Exotics

A little bit daunting…

Impossible to measure/monitor all factors

Impossible to manage all factors

“Quality” means different things for different species

What fish want

Nature provides

Humans taketh away

(Trout) stream restoration

Impossible to measure/monitor/manage all factors

BUT factors are correlated

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

TemperatureDissolved O2

TurbiditypH

HardnessMetals

NutrientsOrganics

SubstrateChannel

MorphologyRiparian vegetation

GradientIn-stream cover

SinuosityBank stability

CanopyChannel

width/depth

Nutrient availabilitySunlight

Organic inputsPrimary productionSeasonal patterns

VelocityRunoffVolume

Ground waterPrecipitationWatershed

characteristics

DiseaseReproduction

FeedingCompetition

PredationParasitism

Exotics

Impossible to measure/monitor all factors

BUT fish and other organisms do it for us(integration)

Impossible to measure/monitor all factors

Can calculate Index of Biological Integrity (IBI)

(score reference sites according to biological criteria)

“Habitat quality” varies with species

BUT habitat is not uniform

“Habitat quality” varies with species

BUT habitat is not uniform

“Habitat quality” varies with species

BUT habitat is not uniform

Cool water, fairly constantCoarse substrate and debris

“Shredders”

Fast currentShaded, high O2

Allochthonous production

Warm water, variableFine substrate and debris

“Collectors”

Slow currentExposed, low/variable O2

Autochthonous production

“Habitat quality” varies with species

BUT habitat is not uniform

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

TemperatureDissolved O2

TurbiditypH

HardnessMetals

NutrientsOrganics

SubstrateChannel

MorphologyRiparian vegetation

GradientIn-stream cover

SinuosityBank stability

CanopyChannel

width/depth

Nutrient availabilitySunlight

Organic inputsPrimary productionSeasonal patterns

VelocityRunoffVolume

Ground waterPrecipitationWatershed

characteristics

DiseaseReproduction

FeedingCompetition

PredationParasitism

Exotics

Habitat heterogeneity(space and time)

Habitat heterogeneity(space and time)Fast current

Little coverShallow water

Coarse substrate

Slow currentHigh cover

Shallow waterCoarse substrate

Slow currentHigh coverDeep water

Fine substrate

Fast currentLittle coverDeep water

Fine substrate

Knight et al. (1991)

What fish want

Nature provides

Humans taketh away

(Trout) stream restoration

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

Habitat degradation

Nutrients Coarse particulate organic matter

Temperature extremes

Suspended solids

Algal production

Bank/substrate stability

Variation in depth

Habitat heterogeneity

Groundwater inputs

In-stream and riparian vegetation

Flow extremes

Stress and disease

Habitat degradation

Bjornn and Reiser (1991), White and Brynildson (1967)

Habitat degradation(trout are sensitive)

Many factors determine habitat quality(e.g., brook trout)

Outside bend Shore eddy

Instream eddyConfluence/seam

Drop-off

Dam or waterfall

Undercut bank

Overhanging vegetation

Raleigh (1982)

Habitat degradation(trout are sensitive)

1) Ave max. temp.2) Ave min. DO3) Dominant subst. type4) % pools5) Ave % veg.6) % streamside veg.7) pH8) Ave annual base flow9) Pool class10) % riffle fines

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

What fish want

Nature provides

Humans taketh away

(Trout) stream restoration

Stream Restoration(restorative engineering)

1. Manage discharge 2. Stabilize bank(s)

3. Provide cover4. Change channel

Political cartoon?Local

Option 1: manage discharge

Discharge affects:

Water temperatureWetted perimeter

Stream depth and widthCurrent velocity

Water qualityHabitat (type, avail.)

Option 1: manage discharge

TemperatureSubstrateVelocityDepth

etc.

+ =

Hydraulic simulations

Suitabilitycriteria

Weightedusable area

Herschy (1998)

Option 1: manage discharge

1996

1999

2001

2003

Lamouroux et al. (2006)

Option 1: manage discharge

Issues:

Multiple life stages and species, timingAre suitability criteria additive, multiplicative, redundant?

Model predictions need ground truthing

Conflicting water uses (agriculture, industry, residential, recreational, hydroelectric, navigation)

Habitat may not translate into fish

Option 2: stabilize banks

Reduce erosion (sedimentation) due to:Logging

Road constructionLoss of riparian vegetation (e.g., agriculture)

Cattle grazingFloods

Natural erosional processes

Affects:Sediment (bed and suspended)

Stream morphologyNutrients and production

Oxygen

Option 2: stabilize banks

a) Rip rap (armor for banks)

Option 2: stabilize banks

b) Willow posts

Option 3: provide cover

c) Brush bundles

Option 2: stabilize banks

d) Remove cows

Option 3: provide cover

Replace cover lost to:Removal of riparian vegetation

Loss of undercut banksErosion/sedimentation

Loss/removal of instream-structure (e.g., logs)

Affects:Available cover

FoodTemperature and light

Option 3: provide cover

a) Half logs

Option 3: provide cover

b) Undercut bank

Option 3: provide cover

c) Root wads (and other woody debris)

Option 4: change channel

Alter:Channel shape

Channel cross-section/profileDissipation of flow energy

Affects:Velocity and turbulence

ErosionSediment load and bed

DepthTemperature

Oxygen

Option 4: change channel

a) Deflectors

Option 4: change channel

b) Plunge pool dams

“good” “bad”Caution:

Work with stream,not against

Use incombination

Thorn (1988)

Stream Restoration(restorative engineering)

Bank stabilization,underbank cover

, MN

Thorn (1988)

Stream Restoration(restorative engineering)

Can improve habitator

simply excludecattle

, MN

What fish want

Nature provides

Humans taketh away

(Trout) stream restoration

WaterChemistry

HabitatStructure

EnergySources

FlowRegime

BioticInteractions

Good or Bad?

Coarse particulate organic matter (e.g., tree parts) absent _____bad

Temperature fairly constant _____

Low nutrient input _____

High suspended load _____

Depth fairly uniform _____

Groundwater input negligible_____

Discharge variability high _____

Dissolved oxygen high _____

Riparian vegetation abundant _____

bad

good

bad

good

bad

bad

good

good

Literature Cited:

Bjornn, T. C., and D. W. Reiser. 1991. Habitat Requirements of Salmonids in Streams. Pages 83-138 in W. R. Meehan (eds). Influences of Forest and Rangeland Management on Salmonid Fishes and Their Habitats. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 19, Bethesda, MD.

Herschy, R.W. 1998. Hydro-ecology: Phabsim. In R. W. Fairbridge and R. W. Herschy, eds, Encyclopedia of hydrology and lakes. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Knight, J. G., M. B. Bain, and K. J. Scheidegger. 1991. A habitat framework for assessing the effects of streamflow regulation on fish. Completion Report #14-16-0009-1550. Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Auburn. 161 pp.

Lamouroux, N., J. M. Olivier, H. Capra, M Zylberblat, A. Chandesris, and P. Roger 2006. Fish community changes after minimum flow increase: testing quantitative predictions in the Rhone River at Pierre-Benite, France. Freshwater Biology. 51: 1730-1743.

Raleigh, R. F. 1982. Habitat suitability index models: brook trout. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Serv. FWS/OBS-82/10.24. 42 pp.

Thorn, W. C. 1988. Evaluation of habitat improvement for brown trout in agriculturally damaged streams of southeastern Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resource, Investigational Report 394, St. Paul, MN.

White, R. J., and O. M. Brynildson. 1967. Guidelines for management of trout stream habitat inWisconsin. Wis Dept. Natur. Resour. Tech. Bull. 39, Madison, WI.