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

Organization
The paper is organized by sections on 1) a
conceptual perspective; 2) a progression of
study options; 3) a review of study options;
and 4) integration, trade -offs, and inserting
findings into decision - making processes.
The document also provides a series of
"sidebars" interspersed through the text.
These short discussions of related topics
are identified by a box outline. Separate
sidebars are provided on:
• Hydropower licensing and recreation
• Flow regimes, long -term effects,
and recreation
• Flows and aesthetics
• Problems with "blind" flow studies
• Flows, fish habitat, and fishability
• Roles and responsibilities
during fieldwork
• Study needs for new license
applications
Photos illustrating key concepts or study
findings are also interspersed throughout
the report. Highlighting central ideas
from the document, these photos and
captions also convey the breadth and
depth of flow - recreation studies or the
issues they have addressed.
"Controlled flow studies" are a powerful tool, allowing
resesarchers and recreation users to evaluate a range
of flows over a short period of time. These studies
are common for relicensingprojects that have bypass
reaches. Different study options provide different levels
of resolution about flow effects on recreation; this guide
helps river professionals recognize the "right tool for
the job':
Left: Pit 3 Dam releases 1,800 cfs on California's Pit
River; this bypass reach has historically provided base
flows about 150 cfs.
Flows and Recreation: 3
A Guide for River Professionals