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Title: Habitat factors in tailwaters with emphasis on peaking hydropower. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6956609

This report describes habitat conditions in tailwaters downstream of Corps of Engineer's dams, with emphasis on peaking hydropower effects, by summarizing literature information, updating findings made previously under the Environmental and Water Quality Operations Studies Program, and presenting preliminary results of field work performed as part of this research effort. Habitat conditions in tailwaters are presented at two different levels of resolution. First, in general terms, physical and chemical conditions in unregulated streams and in tailwaters downstream of surface- and deep-release projects are compared and contrasted. Many of the generic impacts associated with peaking hydropower operation are also described. Many of the generic impact associated with peaking hydropower operation are also described. Second, the detailed effects of peaking hydropower operation are described for benthos and selected fishes using concepts in the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFM). These studies were performed on the Caney Fork River downstream of Centerhill Dam, Tennessee. Based on results of the first phase of field studies, methods are suggested for using a modified IFIM for determining the downstream effects of different release schedules, for assessing downstream effects of upgrading or retrofitting hydropower, and for determining flows necessary to maintain or protect downstream aquatic biota.

Research Organization:
Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA). Environmental Lab.
OSTI ID:
6956609
Report Number(s):
AD-A-218670/8/XAB; WES/TR/EL-90-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English