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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />. .th ('0 L:5J IttHAt <br />High discharges are a necessary component of ecologically-based inttream flows <br />(Reiser et al.A 989; Hill et al.A 991; Jackson and BeschtaA 992; Petts and Maddock! <br /> <br />1996), because minimum streamflows are insufficient to transport sediment downstream. <br /> <br />Kondolf and Wilcock (1996) stated that, "the importance of floods in maintaining the <br /> <br />dynamic nature of riparian and aquatic ecosystems [is] now widely recognized." The <br /> <br />purpose of this report is to provide the scientific basis for determining those high flows <br /> <br />necessary to maintain the channel ofthe White River near Watson, Utah. The White <br /> <br />I?lkem 1(l()OW <br />River is known habitat for adult Colorado siiluawfisR (Pytochocheilus lucius), which is a <br />I '\ ta ~ l't.. l z.e {' <br />federally/designated endangered species. A companion report (Irving and Modde/1998) <br /> <br />d 'b I fl' ~l kem~ (lH"'o~ Wh' ! , <br />escn es ow- ow reqUIrements for the Colorado ql:la" 8 III the Ite River. <br /> <br />Together, these two studies could be used to develop an in-stream flow recommendation <br /> <br />for the White River. <br /> <br />Background -- The Objectives of Habitat and Channel Maintenance <br /> <br />The general purposes of floods are to prevent the channel from aggrading and to <br /> <br />maintain the distribution and abundance of habitats available to stream benthos and fish <br /> <br />fauna. Specific ecological purposes of high flows include habitat and channel <br /> <br />maintenance. One attribute of habitat maintenance is to protect the quality of riffle <br /> <br />habitat by (1) preventing accumulation of surficial fine sediment, (2) preventing <br /> <br />1 <br />