Flows and Recretion: A guide to studies for river professionals

• Date: 10/1/2005
• Author: Doug whittaker, Bo Shelby & John Gangemi
• Title: Flows and Recreation - A guide to studies for river professionals
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Controlled Flow Studies for Fishability
Objective
Improve precision of estimated flow
ranges for fishing by having a panel of
users evaluate several known (usually
controlled) flows. Generally applicable
to rivers where historical fishing has
adapted to an existing controlled flow
regime and modifications of that regime
are considered. Assembled panels may
also provide opportunities to help roughly
explore regional "supply" of similar rivers
or "demand" for similar opportunities.
Typical approach
Similar to boating controlled flow
assessments, Level l and 2 reports are used
to determine flow range and opportunities
of interest. Target flow increments are
chosen and arranged for a short period
of time (if possible). Anglers complete a
pre - fieldwork survey on their experience
and angling preferences, observe or fish
the river at each flow (usually at a sample
of locations), and evaluate flows and
participate in a focus group after each
flow. After all flows have been observed,
participants make overall evaluations
using a "flow comparison" format.
Photos and video footage of key fishing
areas and conditions can provide useful
documentation.
Product
Summary of methods and findings
in a report. Methods should include
descriptions of panel and instrument
development. Findings will typically
include tables and graphs appropriate to
the analysis. Appendices typically include
a participant list, focus group notes, photo
gallery, and survey instruments. Video
or photographic documentation may
supplement report information.
Responsibilities
These studies are more complicated and
typically require substantial participation
by utilities, their consultants, agencies,
and stakeholders. Utilities (or their
consultants) have primary responsibility,
but agencies and stakeholders also play
important roles (see sidebar with more
detail on these roles).
Additional issues
In addition to issues for boating controlled
flow studies, fishability studies have other
complexities.
Representativeness of the panel may be
particularly important because anglers
who fish for certain species or use certain
techniques may be poor evaluators of
30 I Flows and Recreation:
A Guide for River Professionals
flows for other species or types of fishing
(e.g., wading -based trout angling with flies
vs. boat -based salmon fishing with bait).
This requires close coordination with
stakeholder groups to represent
target opportunities.
Anglers can evaluate specific locations as
a group at each flow, or independently
decide which locations to assess (which
might change at different flows). There
are advantages and disadvantages of
each strategy, depending on the length
of the reach, homogeneity of its physical
characteristics, and the time anglers will
have to assess flows.
Cautions & limitations
As with boating controlled flow studies,
fishability studies are most useful where
river segments are short, flows can be
definitively controlled, river access is easy,
and anglers will participate.
Fishability studies are only one component
of assessing flow needs for fishing
opportunities. Fishability studies focus
on access to fishable water, offering less
information about long term effects on
fishing success, the fishery, or biophysical
conditions (see separate sidebar on
these distinctions).
Left: Anglers evaluated a different flow each day
during a fishability study on California's Pit River.
At the end of the multi -day study, a `close -out"
survey compared all the flows.