7371

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7371
• Author: Stalnaker, C. B., R. T. Milhous and K. D. Bovee.
• Title: Hydrology and Hydraulics Applied to Fishery Management in Large Rivers.
• USFW Year: 1989.
• USFW - Doc Type: D. P. Dodge, ed. September 14-21, 1986.
• Copyright Material: YES

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Applied to Fishery Management
large Rivers

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Clair B. Stalnaker, Robert T. Milhous, and Ken D. Bovee

Aquatic Systems Branch, National Ecology Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2627 Redwing Road, Fort Collins,
CO 80526-2899, USA

Abstract

STALNAKER. C. B., R, T. MILHOUS. AND K. D. BoVEE. 1989. Hydrology and hydraulics applied to
fishery management in large rivers. p. 13-30. In D. P. Dodge (ed.] Proceedings of the
International Large River Symposium. Can. Spec. Pub!. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 106.

The use of engineering models from hydrology, hydraulics and sedimentation studies for describing
physical habitat conditions for fishes in large rivers is reviewed. Examples of specific mathematical and
computer models are presented and recommendations for application to spawning. incubation and
microhabitat evaluations are made,

Resume

STALNAKER, C. B., R. T. MILHOUS, AND K. D. BOVEE. 1989. Hydrology and hydraulics applied to
fishery management in large rivers. p. 13-30. In D. P. Dodge [ed.] Proceedings of the
International Large River Symposium. Can. Spec. Pub!. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 106.

Les auteurs examinent I'utilisation de modeles technologiques tires d'etudes hydrologiques,
hydrauliques et sedimentologiques pour decrire les conditions physiques des habitats des poissons dans
de grands cours d'eau. Des exemples de modeles mathematiques et infonnatises sont presentes et des
recommandations concernant leur application a I' evaluation de frayeres, de zones d' incubation et de micro-
habitats sont suggerees.

Introduction

Fishes and other aquatic organisms that live in rivers are
subjected to a much different type of environment than are
organisms that live in standing water. Two characteristics
of rivers distinguish them from vinually all other types of
aquatic environments: wide variability, in both time and
space, and the presence of a continuous current. Currents
that may occur in other aquatic habitats are usually not as
pervasive, spatially and temporally varied, or as strong as
they are in rivers.
River dwelling organisms are well adapted to this special-
ized environment. Some adaptations are morphological,
such as the streamlining and flattening of body shapes and
others are behavioral, such as the use of low velocity areas
adjacent to high velocity areas. Use of these "micro compo-
nents" of the habitat allows a high delivery of food with lit-
tle energy expenditure, thus optimizing the individual's
energy budget. Other species are better adapted to lentic
environments, and select riverine habitats that are as much
like a pond as possible. The common attribute of all these
adaptations is that the areas inhabited by a species tend to
favor its growth, survival, and reproduction, and often iso-
late the species from competitors and predators (Hynes
1970). Furthermore, the use of microhabitats changes as the
organisms grow, and with changes in diel activity and sea-
son (Everest and Chapman 1972). Thus, a species may
require many specialized microhabitats during the course of
its life history.

The formation of these microhabitat areas is the result of
a complex interaction between the morphology of the stream

channel and theflowing water. Channel morphology plays
a major role in determining the distribution of depths and
velocities at a panicular discharge, but is itself a result of
the overall stream hydrology and the materials through
which the stream flows. The streamflow can change very
quickly, whereas alterations in physical morphology usually
occur over an extended period. The use of mathematical and
computer models, adapted from engineering hydraulics, are
reviewed in this paper with recommendations given for
application to fishery management in large rivers.
Fishery and water resources managers must collectively
understand the consequences of various river control and
management schemes. A common language needs to be
established for evaluating the fishery on an equal basis with
the other uses of river water. Such an understanding was
emphasized by Winger (1980) in his review of the physical
and chemical characteristics of warm water streams. .. Man-
agement and protection of warmwater stream resources
depend on a thorough understanding and comprehension of
the interrelatedness of streams and their valleys. Tanta-
mount to that understanding is the effective conveyance of
that information to decision and policy makers. Conse-
quently, fishery managers and biologists should acquire a
working knowledge of the fluvial dynamics, hydrologic
processes, and geochemical relationships that control these
systems. "
Over the last two decades, engineering technology has
provided tools for describing and predicting the physical
processes occurring within a stream. To a lesser extent,
channel dynamics can also be analyzed by using historical
studies and simulation modeling. Fish habitat models based

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