Predicted effects of hydropower uprate on trout habitat in the Cumberland River, Downstream of Wolf Creek Dam, Kentucky. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6537915

Nestler, J M; Gore, J A; Curtis, L T; Martin, J L

The US Army Engineer District, Nashville (ORN), regulates flows in the Cumberland River at Wolf Creek Dam to provide for hydropower generation and flood control. The ORN is considering uprating the Wolf Creek Dam powerhouse to meet future demands for power in the region by replacing existing turbines with new units having higher capacity. With the proposed new units, maximum hydropower discharge will increase with a concomitant decrease in duration of generation. This report describes and quantifies the effects of hydropower uprating on downstream habitat of adult rainbow trout, juvenile brown trout, and adult brown trout using Instream Flow Incremental Methodology concepts. The relative downstream habitat impacts of hydropower uprate are assessed by contrasting existing and uprate release schedules under the following three hydrologic conditions: low flow (90% exceedance), average flow (50% exceedance), and high flow (10% exceedance). In general, predicted habitat availability for adult rainbow trout and adult brown trout decreases under uprate release schedules for low- and average-flow hydrologic conditions. Under high-flow conditions, habitat availability for the adult-life stages increases. Habitat for juvenile brown trout is generally negligible under both existing and uprate release schedules, and consistent patterns were not observed.

• Research Organization: Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA). Environmental Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6537915
• Report Number(s): AD-A-200562/7/XAB; WES/MP/EL-88-10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130600* -- Hydro Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ADULTS
AGE GROUPS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AVAILABILITY
CONTROL
DAMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHES
FLOOD CONTROL
HABITAT
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
HYDROLOGY
KENTUCKY
MACHINERY
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
PROGRESS REPORT
TROUT
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USA
VERTEBRATES