Application of habitat evaluation models in southern Appalachian trout streams. Final project report

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5986964

Loar, J M ^[1]

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1. ed.

Habitat evaluation models are being widely used to identify instream flow requirements for aquatic biota at hydroelectric projects and other water resource developments. A study was conducted to evaluate the validity of physical habitat indices for predicting the response of trout populations to changes in stream-flow. Because the use of habitat indices is based on the assumption that fish abundance or biomass is positively correlated with the value of the habitat index, the study focused on an analysis of fish-to-habitat relationships. Eight study sites on cold water streams with naturally reproducing populations of brown and rainbow trout were selected. Fish biomass, abundance, and production were estimated, using electrofishing and Petersen mark-recapture techniques. Physical habitat was quantified, using the IFIM's Physical Habitat Simulation (PHABSIM) system at each site. Habitat condition alone was not sufficient to explain differences in rainbow trout abundance. To predict the response of trout populations to flow alteration, it is recommended that (1) habitat variables be carefully chosen with respect to critical life stages and periods of the year, (2) site-specific interactions between target species be considered, and (3) management objectives be clearly defined. 51 figures, 87 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5986964
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-9323; ON: DE85005679
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130600* -- Hydro Energy-- Environmental Aspects
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABUNDANCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOMASS
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHES
FLOW RATE
HABITAT
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
NUMERICAL DATA
PRODUCTIVITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TENNESSEE
TROUT
USA
VERTEBRATES