9410

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9410
• Author: Wydoski, R. S. and E. J. Wick.
• Title: Ecological Value of Floodplain Habitats to Razorback Suckers in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1998.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Table 5. Primary considerations for maintaining or enhancing
the ecological integrity of aquatic habitats.

Physical Considerations

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Water Supply (Quantity of Surface Water or Groundwater)
Frequency of Inundation
River Elevation and Discharge
when Floodplain becomes Inundated
Water Depth and Duration
Control of Water Exchange and Levels in Floodplain Habitats
Water Temperature (Range and Potential for Manipulation)
Sediment Deposition and Erosion

Bioloqical Considerations

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Ecosystem Approach
Goals and Objectives for Preservation or Enhancement
of River-Floodplain Ecosystem
Status and Trends of Native and Nonnative Species
Reintroductions of Captive-Reared Animals
Maintaining Genetic Integrity and Diversity
Need for Imprinting Larval or Young Fish to Source Water
Batch Marks to Identify Captive-Reared Animals
Size of Captive-Reared Animals at Release
Timing of Release (Diel and Seasonal)
Proper Food (e.g., Size and Abundance) for Various Life
Stages; Availability for Reintroductions
Access and Exit Routes for Animals
Vegetative Cover
Control of Predators and Competitors
Nonnative Fish, Macroinvertebrates, Birds,
Mammals, or Other Animals

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Chemical Considerations

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Acceptable Water Quality
Chemistry, Dissolved Oxygen, Potential for Nitrogen
Supersaturation from Well Water
Potential Contaminants
Selenium, Heavy Metals, Pesticides or Herbicides

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Economic, Political, and Socioloaical Considerations

Uses of Floodplain Habitats (Human Occupation,
Agriculture, Livestock Grazing, Gravel Mining, etc.)
Legal Mandates, Human Pressures, Lobbying
Cultural Attitudes, Perceptions, Values

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Other examples of ephemeral flooding include the Escalante State Wildlife Area
on the Gunnison River, downstream of Delta, Colorado (Cooper and Severn 1994c)
and Moab Slough on the Colorado River, immediately upstream from Moab, Utah
(Cooper and Severn 1994a). Cooper and Severn estimated that a streamflow of
340 to 425 m3/s (12,000 to 15,000 cfs) was required for overbank flooding at
that site. A streamflow of 425 m3/s (15,000 cfs) occurred 31 times during a
97-year period of record (1896-1993). The duration of flooding at this
streamflow occurred only 8 times for over 25 days. Pre-dam (1897-1965)

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