DOCSLIB.ORG

Implications of Channelization and Sedimentation on Bottomland Hardwood Ecosystems

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Implications of Channelization and Sedimentation on Bottomland Hardwood Ecosystems Implications of Channelization and Sedimentation on Bottomland Hardwood Ecosystems Aaron Pierce, Ph.D. Louisiana State University Hydrology • Single most important factor affecting wetland function • Influence plant structure, composition, invert communities and wildlife Hydroperiod • Seasonal pattern of water level in a wetland • Defines the rise and fall of a wetlands surface and subsurface water levels 1 Wetland Hydroperiod Seasonal pattern of water level in a wetland. Hydrologic Signature Hydrograph Depth Ground Time Surface 3 Components: 1) Flood duration: Average or total amount of time standing (6 COE Zones) water exists during a flood event. 2) Flood frequency: Average number of times a wetland has standing water per year. 3) Flood depth: Depth of aboveground standing water. Hydroperiod Variability • General patterns over long-term but highly unpredictable within and among years • Natural variability is essential to maintain system productivity Flood Pulse Concept • Lateral connectivity of a river and its floodplain is critical for productivity of river, forests, and its organisms • Life-cycles of floodplain plants and animals and many floodplain functions (e.g., sediment retention) are linked to flooding patterns 2 Dynamic Hydrology of Hardwood Bottomlands Day 1 Day 5 Natural hydroperiod is characterized by stochastic and ephemeral flooding events Unaltered Systems Geomorphology • Floodplains are formed from the erosion and deposition of sediment • Patterns and rates of erosion and deposition are critical forces affecting wildlife Where is natural scouring and and fish habitat deposition occurring? 3 Sedimentation • Provides sediment retention, improves water quality, replenishes nutrients, and creates new areas for colonization by wetland plants Point bar deposition – within stream channel • creates ridge and swale topography • temporary storage of sediment Vertical Accretion – deposition in the floodplain • results from overbank flooding • forms the primary floodplain soils • rates and textures are highly variable Overbank Sedimentation • Deposition rates typically <1 cm/yr • Most deposition occurs near the stream channel • Depressional areas can also receive high rates of deposition Geomorphology and Vegetation Black Gum White Oak Live Oak Loblolly Pine Water Hickory Overcup Oak Hickories Overcup Oak Green Ash Water Oak Red Maple Cow Oak River Birch Green Ash Cherrybark Oak Black Willow Water Elm Sweetgum Cottonwood Water Tupelo Willow Oak Baldcypress High Ridge Low Flats Back- Ridge High swamp Low Ridge Ridge Levee Oxbow Stream Channel First Bottom Second Bottom From Conner 1994 4 Activities Impacting Wetlands •Dams •Highways • Irrigation • Levees • Oilfield Canals • Channelization Reasons for Channelization • Mainly for agricultural purpose to remove water from land for cultivation Channelization • Straightens, shortens, and steepens stream channels • Increases stream velocity and stream power • Facilitates transport of sand to the river system • Impacts hydrology and geomorphology 5 Hydrologic Impacts • Alters timing, depth, duration, and frequency of flooding • Disconnects rivers from the floodplain • Can cause excessive ponding at confluences Geomorphic Impacts • Excessive sediment deposition, increased overbank flooding, increased water table, degrade bottomland systems Hatchie River • Headwaters are in Upper East Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain • Drains into MS River • Longest unchannelized stretch of river in LMAV 6 Hatchie River • Supports 100 species of fish, 250 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, 35 species of mussels, and numerous herps • Globally rare Hatchie River burrowing crayfish • TNC "Last Great Place" list http://www.hatchie.com/index.html BLH Forests • Structurally diverse • Highly productive • Important timber resource and provides important wildlife and fisheries habitat Economic Value • Over $3.6 billion generated by timber industry in West TN in 1997 • BLH are an important component of regional and state economy 7 BLH Losses Arkansas Arkansas Tennessee Tennessee Mississippi Mississippi Louisiana Louisiana System Alterations • Extensive channelization of over 90% of the tributaries • Altered hydrology caused rapid geomorphic adjustment Root of the Problem • Geology – Source of the sand • Past and Present Land Use – expose the sand Thin Fertile Loess Layer with Underlying Sand 8 Gully Erosion Channel Erosion Jeffers Creek 9 Bed Load Transport Fine Silts and Clays Coarse Sand Valley Plugs • Occur where sediment (sand) laden waters slow in velocity • Debris jams and intersections of tributaries and rivers are common locations • Completely plugs the channel • During subsequent flows, the plug enlarges upstream as additional sand is deposited 10 Valley Plug Unaltered Tributary Valley Plug Formation Bear Creek Channel Profile Distance upstream from VP and Channel Depth 0.4 Filled at Valley Plug 0 01234567899 VP -0.4 50m 100m (m) 150m 200m 250m -0.8 -1.2 Full channel depth at 250 m -1.6 (m) Possible Impacts • Increases in the water table height • Shift in floodplain plant species composition • Homogenizes aquatic habitats • Alters flood frequency Hickory Creek – valley plug 11 Overbank Flooding Excessive Deposition Sand Splay Telephone Pole Effect Sanding of Timber • Kills standing timber • Alters tree species composition •Buries productive soils 12 Ponding of Timber • Increased water table and accelerated natural levee development encourage permanent ponding of timber Abandoned Channel • Reduced flooding and sedimentation leading to a shift in species composition Shoal Sites • Shoal sites may be impacted in similar ways as valley plug sites but to a lesser Tributary extent Intersection • Channel filling influences overbank flooding and the water table • Crevasse splays cause excessive deposition in the floodplain 13 Location of Study Streams Control Study Site Sampling Design Upstream Tributary 50m 200m = plots sampled for Downstream sediment deposition Valley Plug Study Site Sampling Design Downstream Abandoned Channel 200m = Valley Plug = plots sampled for sediment deposition 50m Upstream 14 Feldspar Clay Sediment Pads Excessive Sand Deposition 0.78 meters Early Spring Fall • Dendrogeomorphic approach to measure sedimentation • Provides a long- term average of sedimentation Relate age with depth to root collar (tree base) 15 Mean Annual Deposition 2002-2004 Valley Plug Sites (4): A 6.0 • Mean = 5.46 cm/yr •SE = 0.44 4.5 Shoal Sites (2): 10X • Mean = 0.57 3.0 Deposition •SE = 0.24 1.5 Control Sites (4): Annual Deposition (cm) B B • Mean = 0.46 cm/yr 0.0 •SE = .05 Valley plug Shoal Control Geomorphic Feature Maximum Annual Sediment Deposition Rates (cm/yr) Valley Plug Sites 80 70 60 50 N 40 R R T , A A r e , , e k p r s 30 v e e i a t N L m iv i R a i T t S r o w R 20 n l u r o S e o f r o e l h t s t e k c s s e c a n Deposition Range (cm/yr) Deposition 10 i a o e R l C M C W B 0 Heimann & Hupp & McInyre & Hupp & Kleiss Pierce & Pierce & Roell 2000 Brazemore Naney Morris 1996 King 2004 King 2004 40X 1993 1991 1990 Study <2 cm per year Deposition Texture Types 100% 90% 80% 70% Larger 60% Sediment 50% at VP 40% and 30% Shoals! of Plots Percentage 20% 10% 0% Valley Plug Shoal Meander % Sand % Silt/Sand % Silt 16 Deposition at Valley Plugs by Location 14 11 Where does 7 deposition occur? 4 Annual Deposition (cm) 0 1234 1 = upstream of vp, 2 = at vp, 3 = downstream of vp, 4 = control Dendrogeomorphic Analysis 8 Why?? 7 valley plug 6 control 5 4 Greatest 3 Sedimentation with Youngest 2 Mean Deposition in cm/yr Trees 1 0 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 Year of Tree Germination Spatial Trends Deposition In direction at Control of channel Site and in depressions Low Deposition (<0.5 cm/yr) Prediction Map 0 120 240 Meters Contours 0 - 0.19 cm/yr 0.20 - 0.47 cm/yr 17 Spatial Trends Perpendicular to channel Deposition at Valley Plug High Deposition (>1 cm/yr) Prediction Map 0 110 220 Meters Contours 0 - 0.76 cm/yr 5.80 - 11.19 cm/yr 11.20 – 41.55 cm/yr 0.77 - 1.52 cm/yr 1.52 – 5.79 cm/yr Summary • Deposition is 10 times greater at valley plug sites than at control and shoal sites • Significant differences in deposition types among soil types • Valley plugs are progressing upstream, impacting new areas • Valley plugs change the spatial dynamics of sedimentation Future Work • Investigate linkages between excessive sedimentation and changes in surface and subsurface hydrological regimes • Determine implications of excessive sedimentation, surface and subsurface hydrology on succession of BLH forests 18 Maximum Flood Depth and Total Duration of Flooding Initial Findings 250 VP Sites Drier!!! 200 Why? 150 100 50 0 Bear vp Hickory vp Jeffers vp Marshall Spring Hatchie GVL Maximum Flooding Depth (cm) Total Duration of Flooding (days) Abundance of Tree Species Control SiteInitial Findings Valley Plug Site Cypress, Oaks Maple Maple, Willow, Sweetgum Oak Elm Ash Cypress-Tupelo Willow-Birch Sweetgum Hickory Sycamore-Cottonwood Others Differences in Species Evenness! Acknowledgements • Funding provided Special Thanks : by the U.S. Fish Dr. Cliff Hupp and Wildlife Service and the U.S.D.A. – Dr. Tim Diehl CSREES: Initiative The Nature Conservancy for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. Field Crew: Justin Nolte, Eric Sawyers, Chuck Yoest, Nick Wirwa, B.J. Wilson, Wes Cochran, Jimmy Fox, Jeff Roberson, and Nick Winstead 19 Questions? Photograph by Byron Jorjorian 20.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (P 117-140) Flood Pulse.Qxp
    117 THE FLOOD PULSE CONCEPT: NEW ASPECTS, APPROACHES AND APPLICATIONS - AN UPDATE Junk W.J. Wantzen K.M. Max-Planck-Institute for Limnology, Working Group Tropical Ecology, P.O. Box 165, 24302 Plön, Germany E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The flood pulse concept (FPC), published in 1989, was based on the scientific experience of the authors and published data worldwide. Since then, knowledge on floodplains has increased considerably, creating a large database for testing the predictions of the concept. The FPC has proved to be an integrative approach for studying highly diverse and complex ecological processes in river-floodplain systems; however, the concept has been modified, extended and restricted by several authors. Major advances have been achieved through detailed studies on the effects of hydrology and hydrochemistry, climate, paleoclimate, biogeography, biodi- versity and landscape ecology and also through wetland restoration and sustainable management of flood- plains in different latitudes and continents. Discussions on floodplain ecology and management are greatly influenced by data obtained on flow pulses and connectivity, the Riverine Productivity Model and the Multiple Use Concept. This paper summarizes the predictions of the FPC, evaluates their value in the light of recent data and new concepts and discusses further developments in floodplain theory. 118 The flood pulse concept: New aspects, INTRODUCTION plain, where production and degradation of organic matter also takes place. Rivers and floodplain wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems. For example, 77 percent These characteristics are reflected for lakes in of the water discharge of the 139 largest river systems the “Seentypenlehre” (Lake typology), elaborated by in North America and Europe is affected by fragmen- Thienemann and Naumann between 1915 and 1935 tation of the river channels by dams and river regula- (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sedimentary Processes and Geomorphic History of Wreck Shoal, an Oyster Reef of the James River, Virginia
    W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1986 THE SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES AND GEOMORPHIC HISTORY OF WRECK SHOAL, AN OYSTER REEF OF THE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA Joseph T. DeAlteris College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation DeAlteris, Joseph T., "THE SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES AND GEOMORPHIC HISTORY OF WRECK SHOAL, AN OYSTER REEF OF THE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA" (1986). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539616626. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25773/v5-af3n-wf26 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this manuscript, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. For example: • Manuscript pages may have indistinct print. In such cases, the best available copy has been filmed. • Manuscripts may not always be complete. In such cases, a note will indicate that it is not possible to obtain missing pages. • Copyrighted material may have been removed from the manuscript. In such cases, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, and charts) are photographed by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps.
    [Show full text]
  • Florida Designated Paddling Trails Shoal River
    F ll oCR)"r 6i0i2d a D e s ii g n a tt e d Blackman P a d d ll ii n g T r a ii ll s C)"R 2 ¯ )"2 C)"R 2 S h o a ll R ii v e r CR)" 147 189 «¬ Campton 85 Cannon Town «¬ Nubbin Ridge «¬4 )"393 Auburn Baker Silver Springs 188 )" Dorcas M a p 1 «¬4 Milligan Crestview )"189 Deerland ¤£90 Mossy Head 10 Holt Galliver ¨¦§ Forest Highlands «¬85 «¬285 A N S O O T O L L A A W Designated Paddling Trail K O Wetlands Water Designated Paddling Trail Index «¬123 Niceville «¬20 0 2 4 8 Miles «¬85 S h o a ll R ii v e rr P a d d ll ii n g T rr a ii ll M a p 1 )"188 STILLWELL BLVD ¯ NO B RTH AVE R V A A C L K L I N E Y S R T D F Crestview A I L R L C O H Y I L D D S 90 R T CH ¤£ D ES NU T A Þ VE !| 2)"80A Access Point 1: Ray Barnes Boat Ramp/US 90 N: 30.7535 W: -86.5099 OKALOOSA ¨¦§10 JOHN K ING RD L I 85 V ¬ E « O Okaloosa County Shoal River A K Land Acquisition PJ AD C AMS PKWY H U R C H R D A NT Choctawhatchee IOC Choctawhatchee H R Nat'l Forest D Nat'l Forest !|*IÞ Access Point 2: Bill Duggan Jr Park/SR 85 N: 30.6976 W: -86.5712 Shoal River Paddling Trail Eglin Air Force Base !| Canoe/Kayak Launch *I Restrooms Þ Potable Water Florida Conservation Lands 0 0.5 1 2 Miles Wetlands Shoal River Paddling Trail Guide The Waterway A nature photographer’s dream, the shallow, gold-tinted Shoal River threads through a northwest Florida wilderness of high sandy hills, broad sandbars perfect for rest stops, and floodplain forest.
    [Show full text]
  • Seasonal Flooding Affects Habitat and Landscape Dynamics of a Gravel
    Seasonal flooding affects habitat and landscape dynamics of a gravel-bed river floodplain Katelyn P. Driscoll1,2,5 and F. Richard Hauer1,3,4,6 1Systems Ecology Graduate Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812 USA 2Rocky Mountain Research Station, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 USA 3Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana 59806 USA 4Montana Institute on Ecosystems, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812 USA Abstract: Floodplains are comprised of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that are reshaped frequently by hydrologic processes that operate at multiple spatial and temporal scales. It is well established that hydrologic and geomorphic dynamics are the primary drivers of habitat change in river floodplains over extended time periods. However, the effect of fluctuating discharge on floodplain habitat structure during seasonal flooding is less well understood. We collected ultra-high resolution digital multispectral imagery of a gravel-bed river floodplain in western Montana on 6 dates during a typical seasonal flood pulse and used it to quantify changes in habitat abundance and diversity as- sociated with annual flooding. We observed significant changes in areal abundance of many habitat types, such as riffles, runs, shallow shorelines, and overbank flow. However, the relative abundance of some habitats, such as back- waters, springbrooks, pools, and ponds, changed very little. We also examined habitat transition patterns through- out the flood pulse. Few habitat transitions occurred in the main channel, which was dominated by riffle and run habitat. In contrast, in the near-channel, scoured habitats of the floodplain were dominated by cobble bars at low flows but transitioned to isolated flood channels at moderate discharge.
    [Show full text]
  • Sandbridge Beach FONSI
    FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Issuance of a Negotiated Agreement for Use of Outer Continental Shelf Sand from Sandbridge Shoal in the Sandbridge Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project Virginia Beach, Virginia Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508) and Department of the Interior (DOI) regulations implementing NEPA (43 CFR 46), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether the issuance of a negotiated agreement for the use of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sand from Sandbridge Shoal Borrow Areas A and B for the Sandbridge Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project near Virginia Beach, VA would have a significant effect on the human environment and whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) should be prepared. Several NEPA documents evaluating impacts of the project have been previously prepared by both the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and BOEM. The USACE described the affected environment, evaluated potential environmental impacts (initial construction and nourishment events), and considered alternatives to the proposed action in a 2009 EA. This EA was subsequently updated and adopted by BOEM in 2012 in association with the most recent 2013 Sandbridge nourishment effort (BOEM 2012). Prior to this, BOEM (previously Minerals Management Service [MMS]) was a cooperating agency on several EAs for previous projects (MMS 1997; MMS 2001; MMS 2006). This current EA, prepared by BOEM, supplements and summarizes the aforementioned 2012 analysis. BOEM has reviewed all prior analyses, supplemented additional information as needed, and determined that the potential impacts of the current proposed action have been adequately addressed.
    [Show full text]
  • Variable Hydrologic and Geomorphic Responses to Intentional Levee Breaches Along the Lower Cosumnes River, California
    Received: 21 April 2016 Revised: 29 March 2017 Accepted: 30 March 2017 DOI: 10.1002/rra.3159 RESEARCH ARTICLE Not all breaks are equal: Variable hydrologic and geomorphic responses to intentional levee breaches along the lower Cosumnes River, California A. L. Nichols1 | J. H. Viers1,2 1 Center for Watershed Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA Abstract 2 School of Engineering, University of The transport of water and sediment from rivers to adjacent floodplains helps generate complex California, Merced, California, USA floodplain, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. However, riverside levees restrict lateral connectiv- Correspondence ity of water and sediment during flood pulses, making the re‐introduction of floodplain hydrogeo- A. L. Nichols, Center for Watershed Sciences, morphic processes through intentional levee breaching and removal an emerging floodplain University of California, Davis, California, USA. restoration practice. Repeated topographic observations from levee breach sites along the lower Email: [email protected] Cosumnes River (USA) indicated that breach architecture influences floodplain and channel hydrogeomorphic processes. Where narrow breaches (<75 m) open onto graded floodplains, Funding information California Department of Fish and Wildlife archetypal crevasse splays developed along a single dominant flowpath, with floodplain erosion (CDFW) Ecosystem Restoration Program in near‐bank areas and lobate splay deposition in distal floodplain regions. Narrow breaches (ERP), Grant/Award Number: E1120001; The opening into excavated floodplain channels promoted both transverse advection and turbulent Nature Concervancy (TNC); Consumnes River Preserve diffusion of sediment into the floodplain channel, facilitating near‐bank deposition and potential breach closure. Wide breaches (>250 m) enabled multiple modes of water and sediment transport onto graded floodplains.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeochemical and Metabolic Responses to the Flood Pulse in a Semi-Arid Floodplain
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@USU 1 Running Head: Semi-arid floodplain response to flood pulse 2 3 4 5 6 Biogeochemical and Metabolic Responses 7 to the Flood Pulse in a Semi-Arid Floodplain 8 9 10 11 with 7 Figures and 3 Tables 12 13 14 15 H. M. Valett1, M.A. Baker2, J.A. Morrice3, C.S. Crawford, 16 M.C. Molles, Jr., C.N. Dahm, D.L. Moyer4, J.R. Thibault, and Lisa M. Ellis 17 18 19 20 21 22 Department of Biology 23 University of New Mexico 24 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 USA 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 present addresses: 32 33 1Department of Biology 2Department of Biology 3U.S. EPA 34 Virginia Tech Utah State University Mid-Continent Ecology Division 35 Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA Logan, Utah 84322 USA Duluth, Minnesota 55804 USA 36 540-231-2065, 540-231-9307 fax 37 [email protected] 38 4Water Resources Division 39 United States Geological Survey 40 Richmond, Virginia 23228 USA 41 1 1 Abstract: Flood pulse inundation of riparian forests alters rates of nutrient retention and 2 organic matter processing in the aquatic ecosystems formed in the forest interior. Along the 3 Middle Rio Grande (New Mexico, USA), impoundment and levee construction have created 4 riparian forests that differ in their inter-flood intervals (IFIs) because some floodplains are 5 still regularly inundated by the flood pulse (i.e., connected), while other floodplains remain 6 isolated from flooding (i.e., disconnected).
    [Show full text]
  • Short Creek and Shoal Creek in the Spring River Watershed Water Quality Impairment: Total Phosphorus
    NEOSHO BASIN TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD Waterbody / Assessment Unit: Short Creek and Shoal Creek in the Spring River Watershed Water Quality Impairment: Total Phosphorus 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION Subbasin: Spring Counties: Cherokee HUC8: 11070207 HUC10(12): 08(06) & 09(04) Ecoregion: Ozark Highlands, Springfield Plateau (39a) Drainage Area: Shoal Creek = approximately 10.1 square miles in Kansas Short Creek = approximately 5.94 square miles in Kansas Water Quality Limited Segments Covered Under this TMDL: Station Main Stem Segment Tributary Station SC570 Short Creek (881) Station SC212 Shoal Creek (2) Unnamed Stream (886) 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014 303(d) Listings: Kansas Stream segments monitored by stations SC212 on Short Creek and SC570 on Shoal Creek, are cited as impaired by Total Phosphorus (TP) for the Neosho Basin. Impaired Use: Special Aquatic Life, Expected Aquatic Life, Contact Recreation and Domestic Water Supply. Water Quality Criteria: Nutrients – Narratives: The introduction of plant nutrient into surface waters designated for domestic water supply use shall be controlled to prevent interference with the production of drinking water (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(c)(3)(D)). The introduction of plant nutrients into streams, lakes, or wetlands from artificial sources shall be controlled to prevent the accelerated succession or replacement of aquatic biota or the production of undesirable quantities or kinds of aquatic life (K.A.R. 28-16- 28e(c)(2)(A)). The introduction of plant nutrients into surface waters designated for primary or secondary contact recreational use shall be controlled to prevent the development of objectionable concentrations of algae or algal by-products or nuisance growths of submersed, floating, or emergent aquatic vegetation (K.A.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of a Flood Pulsing Hydrology on Plants and Invertebrates in Riparian Wetlands
    IMPACTS OF A FLOOD PULSING HYDROLOGY ON PLANTS AND INVERTEBRATES IN RIPARIAN WETLANDS A dissertation submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Maureen K. Drinkard August 2012 Dissertation written by Maureen K. Drinkard B.S., Kent State University, 2003 Ph.D., Kent State University, 2012 Approved by ___Ferenc de Szalay_, Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee ___Mark Kershner_______, Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _____Oscar Rocha________, ____Mandy Munro-Stasiuk_, Accepted by _____James Blank______, Chair, Department of Biological Sciences ______Raymond Craig___, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... x CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 Dissertation Goals ............................................................................................. 1 Definition of the Flood Pulse Concept .............................................................. 2 Ecological and economic importance ............................................................... 3 Impacts of environmental
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Temporal Dynamics of the Wandering Renous River, New Brunswick, Canada
    Earth Surface Processes and Landforms EarthTemporal Surf. dynamicsProcess. Landforms of a wandering 30, 1227–1250 river (2005) 1227 Published online 23 June 2005 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/esp.1196 Understanding the temporal dynamics of the wandering Renous River, New Brunswick, Canada Leif M. Burge1* and Michel F. Lapointe2 1 Department of Geography and Program in Planning, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G3, Canada 2 Department of Geography McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2K6, Canada *Correspondence to: L. M. Burge, Abstract Department of Geography and Program in Planning, University Wandering rivers are composed of individual anabranches surrounding semi-permanent of Toronto, 100 St. George St., islands, linked by single channel reaches. Wandering rivers are important because they Toronto, M5S 3G3, Canada. provide habitat complexity for aquatic organisms, including salmonids. An anabranch cycle E-mail: [email protected] model was developed from previous literature and field observations to illustrate how anabranches within the wandering pattern change from single to multiple channels and vice versa over a number of decades. The model was used to investigate the temporal dynamics of a wandering river through historical case studies and channel characteristics from field data. The wandering Renous River, New Brunswick, was mapped from aerial photographs (1945, 1965, 1983 and 1999) to determine river pattern statistics and for historical analysis of case studies. Five case studies consisting of a stable single channel, newly formed anabranches, anabranches gaining stability following creation, stable anabranches, and an abandoning anabranch were investigated in detail.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrologic Alteration of the Lower Rio Grande Terminus: a Quantitative Assessment
    RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS River. Res. Applic. 25: 241–252 (2009) Published online 29 April 2008 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/rra.1151 HYDROLOGIC ALTERATION OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE TERMINUS: A QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT MICHAEL F. SMALL,* TIMOTHY H. BONNER and JOHN T. BACCUS Department of Biology, Texas State University—San Marcos, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA ABSTRACT The lower Rio Grande is one of several imperilled river reaches in North America. Drought and water withdrawals for agriculture and municipal use are acknowledged as primary sources of riverine degradation. We agree that these are critical components adversely affecting the river but also suggest disruption in the normal flood-pulse cycle of the lower Rio Grande, resulting from impoundment of Falcon Lake and poor management of releases from Falcon Lake Dam, have contributed substantially to decline in ecosystem integrity. We provide statistical evidence and real observations in support of the hypothesis that loss of the natural flood-pulse cycle of the lower Rio Grande has detrimentally affected the riparian ecosystem. Although the presence of adverse effects from disruption of the flood-pulse cycle is intuitive, this is the first report quantifying the degree of alteration in the lower Rio Grande. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. key words: Rio Grande; Texas; riparian; alteration; flood-pulse cycle Received 9 March 2007; Accepted 28 February 2008 INTRODUCTION Excerpt from CBS Radio Network: ‘Title: One of the world’s most celebrated rivers is almost gone. There’s an old saying in Texas—whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.
    [Show full text]
  • Interpretation of Fish Shoal Indications in the Arabian Sea
    INTERPRETATION OF FISH SHOAL INDICATIONS IN THE ARABIAN SEA V. A. Puthran & V. Narayana Pillai Central institute of Fisheries Operatives, Cachill. Jntroduction Some knowledge regardir.g the pre­ sence of similar fishable concentrations Availability of resources is perhaps of fish and other marine life is of great one of the most il1)p~rt2nt factors which importance to the technical ski:] working determines the success of any industry. on board fishing vess" ls. Their technical In the case of the fishing industry, at the knowledoe in fishing could be put to basic production level. the availability use more-eifectively ..,>,hen posit ive indi­ of fishable concentrations of fishes and cations with regard to the avaiiability of other mHine life is the decisive factor shoals are known to them. The correct which c~ntrols the economy of the whole and quick interpretation of these indi­ system. Even when well e quipped cations would Dlace them in a better vessel, fishing gear an d trained person­ position from where they can use their nelare available, the success of the indu­ judgment towards achieving great stry is dependent on the availability of success in this endeavour. fishable concentrations of commercially important marine life at the appropriate In India, only very little werk seems time. By the word' fishable concentra­ to have been done along these lines tions', the implication is availability of especially to arrive at a positive corre­ sizeable quantities of fishes which could lation between certain natural indica­ be definitely caught using a particular tions and presence of fishable concent­ type of craft and gear in a particular rations of comITl "rciallv important area at a particular time.
    [Show full text]