La Grande rivière: ‘In accord with its environment’, a case study

The La Grande Rivière hydroelectric complex in the James Bay region has now been operational for more than 15 years. Numerous environmental monitoring programmes have been implemented to learn from that project. This article reviews the evolution of the newly created environments and their effects on wildlife and habitats. It also examine the modification to land use and the socio‐cultural repercussions on the Cree communities.     

A case study of water retention and ecosystem functioning restoration in Wenying Lake (China)

Wenying Lake in Datong, China, has been drying for the last several years. Analysis of standard penetration test data revealed that a missing waterproof layer of silt soil and silty clay in the south part of the lake, resulting from frequent flood flushing, was responsible for the water loss from the lake. Accordingly, 6.7 × 10⁵ m² of geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) was used in May 2010 to repair the area of sediment exhibiting the water leakage, equivalent to 15.6% of the total lake bottom area. Approximately 4.1 × 10⁶ m³ of floodwater was then diverted from upstream rivers to the lake. Eight months later, about 0.9 × 10⁶ m³ of the water was retained, with the water loss being reduced from 4.0 to 1.1 m³ m^?2 year^?1. Ecologically safe and cost‐effective clay materials also can be used to furthermore improve the water retention characteristics. Modelling results indicated that capping the whole lake with a 2 cm layer of bentonite with a permeability coefficient of 5.0 × 10^?9 cm s^?1 could reduce the sediment water leakage to 0.04 m³ m^?2 year^?1. The quality of the retained water after GCL treatment project was poor, with a total nitrogen concentration of 11.0 mg L^?1 and sulphate 307.0 mg L^?1, which were 5 and 300 times higher, respectively, than the Chinese class V surface water standard. Restoration of aquatic vegetation in the lake and constructed wetlands near the lake inlets could be helpful to improve the lake’s water quality over the long term.     

Geomorphic response to river flow regulation: Case studies and time-scales

River regulation imposes primary changes on flow and sediment transfer, the principal factors governing the alluvial channel regime. In this study, the effect of flow regulation is isolated from sediment delivery. Peace River (Q? = 1080m³s^?1, increasing to 2110m³s^?1 downstream) was regulated in 1967 for hydropower. The gravel-bed reach immediately downstream from the dam has become stable. Gravel accumulates at major tributary junctions, so the river profile is becoming stepped. Further downstream, the river has a sand bed. It can still transport sand, so morphological changes along the channel include both aggradation and channel narrowing by lateral accretation. In the gravel-bed Kemano River (Q? = 150m³s^?1), the addition of water by diversion from another river caused degradation when additional bed material was entrained below the inflow point. However, the effect became evident only after many years, when a competent flood occurred. The short-term response was channel widening. The time-scale for the response depends on the size of the river and the nature and severity of regulation. In both rivers, significant adjustment will require centuries and will intimately involve the riparian forest.     

Larval fish catches in the lower Milk River,Montana in relation to timing and magnitude of spring discharge

Larval fishes were sampled in the Milk River, Missouri River drainage, Montana from May to August 2002, 2003 and 2004 to describe temporal spawning distribution in relation to spring discharge. Total larval catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) in 2002 (28.9 fish/100 m³) was an estimated 29 times greater than in 2003 (0.99 fish/100 m³) and 16 times greater than in 2004 (1.78 fish/100 m³). In 2003 and 2004 more than one third of the total catch occurred before 12 June whereas in 2002, only 5% of the total catch occurred before 12 June. Marked differences in larval species composition were also observed between years, suggesting that a later peak in discharge may benefit some species and an earlier peak others. In 2002, when flows peaked later (at 77 m³ s^?1), common carp Cyprinus carpio represented 37% of the total larval catch. Common carp were proportionally less abundant in 2003 (7.2%) and 2004 (1.4%) than in 2002. In 2004, when flows peaked (at 163 m³ s^?1) 32 days earlier than in 2002 but only 15 days earlier than in 2003 (at 73 m³ s^?1), shorthead redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum and suckers Catostomus sp. were the numerically dominant taxa. These results indicate that the timing, not necessarily the magnitude, of peak spring discharge may influence spawning success in the lower Milk River, as indicated by larval fish catches. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass Exchange Between Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario

The mass exchange between Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario waters through the Burlington Canal is important for estimating the dissolved oxygen budget of the harbour. Lake-harbour exchange is caused by either the oscillatory flow in the canal during isothermal conditions or the densimetric flow during thermal stratification. During the study period (September 1975), the canal water was found to be quasi-isothermal; consequently oscillatory flow existed. A computational method was developed to estimate the exchange based on excursion distance travelled for each limnological episode, and the final flow in each direction was checked with dissolved solids budget. An average of 2.04 × 10⁶ m³.d^?1 (24 m³.s^?l) of harbour water is estimated to flow into the lake, while 0.73 × 10⁶ m³.d^?1 (8 m³.s^?1) of lake water flowed toward the harbour during September 1975. This accounts for the total and net daily exchange of 0.98% and 0.48% of harbour volume, with net exchange being toward the lake. The total and net exchanges were respectively 8 and 4 times the natural drainage during the study period. On a monthly average, more water leaves than enters the harbour. The lake-harbour exchange is considered important for maintaining and even improving the existing harbour water quality. The harbour dilution factor was estimated as 0.0019 per day for the present study.     

Evaluation of the Missouri River shallow water habitat using a 2D‐hydrodynamic model

Many of the Upper Missouri River dikes have been notched to create additional shallow water habitat (SWH, operationally defined as areas in the stream with depth < 1.5 m, and velocity < 0.75 m s^?1) for fish populations. The goal of this study was to quantify the additional SWH gained from notching these dikes and to evaluate their performance under different flow conditions. A coupled field and numerical study was performed on a reach of the Missouri River, near Nebraska City, NE, which contains a number of dikes notched in 2004. The numerical simulations showed that the SWH criterion for depth was more difficult to satisfy in the study reach than the SWH criterion for velocity. Notching the dikes resulted in a slight shift of the bankline due to local erosion in the vicinity of the dikes and the formation of scour holes downstream of the notches. Results from the study suggested that notching the dikes had limited impact on the SWH because the area gained from the bankline shift was offset by the area lost from the scour holes formation. The performance of the notched dikes in sustaining the minimum habitat suitability conditions for the Missouri River ecosystem was also investigated. These conditions corresponded to discharges < 709 m³ s^?1 for the period from mid‐July to mid‐August, or equivalently SWH areas > 5225 m² dike^?1 during the same period. Analysis of the Missouri River annual discharge records at the study site showed that the dikes can provide the minimum required SWH for mean annual discharges < 667 m³ s^?1. For mean annual discharges > 667 m³ s^?1, new alternative structures or restoration facilities were needed, in addition to the existing dikes, to sustain the minimum required SWH. The dikes were not effective in providing any SWH for mean annual discharges > 2000 m³ s^?1. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

QUANTIFYING RIVER ACCRETION IN THE UPPER RIO GRANDE GORGE,NEW MEXICO,BY USING AN ACOUSTIC DOPPLER CURRENT PROFILER

The section of the upper Rio Grande in New Mexico is important to downstream water management and the administration of water rights. It has long been believed that this remote reach of the Rio Grande is characterized by significant groundwater accretions, which contribute to water available for downstream uses. This study focused on the uppermost 30 miles of the Rio Grande in New Mexico seeking to establish locations of groundwater accretions in the reach and document magnitude of gain. In order to quantify the accretion of the upper Rio Grande, an expedition using inflatable kayaks, an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and an electromagnetic meter was carried out in the fall of 2008 when natural surface flow was low. The study area covered a stretch of 31 miles. The expedition was able to determine that the total accretion of this stretch of the Rio Grande was 22 ft³s^?1 with an average accretion rate of 0.73 ft³s^?1 mile^?1. Most of the reach exhibited minimal gain or loss, and most of the accretion was centred in Sunshine Valley. One of the most significant results was encountering a large artesian, subaqueous spring, which might be the largest documented spring in New Mexico and contributes nearly 50% of the accretion in the reach. The study was also able to characterize the exact locations of other significant groundwater inputs. In addition to quantifying the accretion of part of the upper Rio Grande, the study provides the framework for using advanced technology in the form of an ADCP to determine river accretions in remote locations. ADCPs offer the benefit of reducing measurement time and measurement error, collect high‐resolution data and are non‐intrusive. Overall, the use of ADCP technology to determine river accretion offers an improvement over traditional methods, and it is the hope of the authors that this technology is utilized for river accretion studies in the future. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE SOLAR‐TO‐STREAM POWER RATIO: A DIMENSIONLESS NUMBER EXPLAINING DIEL FLUCTUATIONS OF TEMPERATURE IN MESOSCALE RIVERS

The diel variation of temperature in mesoscale river reaches (catchment area > 1000 km²) is analysed using concurrent measurements of water temperature and of those meteorological (incident short‐wave radiation, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed variables) and hydraulic variables (streamflow, top width, channel slope and flow depth) controlling the thermal regime. Measurements were taken along two river reaches located in central Chile, on the Itata (11 290 km², Strahler's order 6, reach length 30 km, Q_bankfull = 400 m³ s^?1) and Vergara (4340 km², Strahler's order 5, reach length 20 km, Q_bankfull = 85 m³ s^?1) rivers. The measuring frequency was 15 min. The relevant energy fluxes at the air–water interface, that is, atmospheric long‐wave radiation, net short‐wave radiation, radiation emitted by the water body, evaporation (latent heat) and conduction heat are computed and analysed for four scenarios of 12 days duration each, representing typical conditions for the austral winter, spring, summer and autumn. We find large differences in the diel river temperature range between the two sites and across seasons (and thus, flows and meteorological conditions), as reported in previous studies, but no clear relationship with the controlling variables is overtly observed. Following a dimensional analysis, we obtain a dimensionless parameter corresponding to the ratio of solar‐to‐stream power, which adequately explains the diel variation of water temperature in mesoscale rivers. A number of our own measurements as well as literature data are used for preliminary testing of the proposed parameter. This easy‐to‐compute number is shown to predict quite well all of the cases, constituting a simple and useful criterion to estimate a priori the magnitude of temperature diel variations in a river reach, given prevailing meteorological (daily maximum solar radiation) and hydrologic–hydraulic (streamflow, mean top width) conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Littoral and shoreline wood in mid‐continent great rivers (USA)

Woody debris has several important roles in running water. Less is known about the ecology of wood in great rivers than in smaller rivers and streams. We used a probability survey to estimate the abundance of littoral and shoreline wood along the following mid‐continent great rivers of the United States in summer 2004–2006: the Missouri River, Upper Mississippi River, and the Ohio River. We counted wood pieces >0.3 m in diameter from a zone between the bank full level out into the river 10 m. We categorized wood according to its origin and function as “beached” (transported from upriver but not providing aquatic habitat), “wet” (origin unknown and providing aquatic habitat; includes snags), or “anchored” (attached to the bank at its current location and providing aquatic habitat). We counted 5900 pieces of wood at 447 sites across rivers. Approximately 56 percent of pieces were beached, 30 percent were wet, and 14 percent were anchored. Overall, mean abundance of wood was 2.6 pieces of wood 100 m^?1 of shoreline (approximately 3.0 m³ 100 m^?1). Abundance of wood (pieces per unit distance of river) was much lower than has been reported for many smaller streams and rivers. There was more wood along the Upper Mississippi River (3.3 pieces 100 m^?1) than elsewhere (≤2.4 pieces 100 m^?1). The mean abundance of wood on the Ohio River decreased significantly between the 2004 and 2005 survey periods due to high flows. Longitudinal patterns in wood abundance were weak. There was less anchored and wet wood along shorelines protected by revetment (e.g., rip rap). There was generally more wood along shorelines where the riparian land use was characterized as forest rather than agriculture or developed. Mean abundance of wood along forested, un‐revetted shorelines was approximately four pieces 100 m^?1 of shoreline (= 80 pieces km^?1 of river). This estimate of mean wood abundance for what amounts to least disturbed riparian and shoreline conditions is relevant for great river bioassessment and management. Published in 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Abiotic Attributes Surrounding Alluvial Islands Generate Critical Fish Habitat

Identifying the appropriate scale at which habitat is biologically relevant to riverine fishes in large, sand‐dominated rivers is a challenge. Alluvial islands are important to several of these fishes throughout the central USA, but there is a paucity of information on island habitat features that restoration efforts should try to replicate. We determined the physical characteristics of two island complexes in the middle Mississippi River that facilitate the settlement and survival of age‐0 shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus at relatively large (mean 39,000 m²) and small (mean 320 m²) scales. Depth (m), flow rate (m s^?1), substrate (sand, rock, silt) and vegetation were quantified at these two scales using hydroacoustic techniques (split‐beam sonar and acoustic Doppler current profiler). Abiotic attributes in the surrounding littoral zone of the island complexes were highly correlated but differed depending on location. At the coarse spatial scale, vegetation was positively related to shovelnose sturgeon abundance. At the fine spatial scale, age‐0 shovelnose sturgeon were restricted to flow rates < 0.89 m s^?1, with abundance peaking at about 0.40 m s^?1. However, heterogeneity in depth and flow was important, and sturgeon abundance peaked at intermediate variability in these two abiotic attributes. A computer‐generated model of the habitat surrounding islands suggests that these habitats are diverse and may provide flow refugia and foraging patches for shovelnose sturgeon. We submit the results presented here that can contribute to a hierarchical model for island restoration in large rivers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Do Alluvial Sand Dunes Create Energetic Refugia for Benthic Fishes? An Experimental Test with the Endangered Pallid Sturgeon

River modifications have altered critical habitats for fishes at a variety of spatial scales and caused global declines of many fluvial species. At small spatial scales (<1 m²), alluvial sand dunes, a ubiquitous habitat in highly modified rivers, are thought to provide energetic relief for benthic fishes in energetically costly riverine landscapes created by water flow. However, use of alluvial dune habitat is not well understood, and it is unclear whether dunes provide refuge that effectively reduces energetic costs. We designed a scale‐relevant experiment to examine the energetic responses associated with sand dune habitat in rivers. We tested whether the US federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus ), a benthic fish commonly associated with sand dunes, experienced reduced energetic costs with different configurations of simulated sand dune habitat. We quantified mass specific oxygen consumption (M O₂; mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1) using intermittent flow‐through respirometry for age‐0 sturgeon (140–170 mm) in front of a sand dune, behind a sand dune and in the absence of a sand dune at two velocities (25 and 50 cm s^?1) commonly observed in field studies of sturgeon habitat use. Sturgeon displayed distinct station holding behaviours for each habitat configuration. Dune location did not affect energy expenditure, but sturgeon M O₂ was on average 16–20% higher in the absence of a sand dune depending on dune configuration. M O₂ was on average 14% higher at 50 cm s^?1 compared with 25 cm s^?1. Our results provide a potential mechanism for over two decades of research on why sturgeon and other benthic fishes exhibit selection for sand dune habitat in large rivers. Fishes that select main channel habitats may depend on energetic relief provided by sand dunes, especially when other forms of structure are not available. For this reason, alluvial sand dune habitat may be important to the persistence of benthic fishes in high flow environments. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of river regulation on the structure of a fast-growing brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) population

During the last 70 years, the Norwegian lake Mjøsa and its inflowing rivers have been subjected to serious changes due to hydroelectric power development. Regulation of the main inlet river, Gudbrandsdalslagen, started in 1919. The river power station at the Hunder fall was completed in 1964. This resulted in a reduction of winter water flow below the Hunder dam from approximately 26m³s^?1 to 2m³s^?1, which affected the most important spawning area of the fast-growing population of brown trout, Salmo trutta L. The population was investigated in detail in 1907, 1909, 1961, and 1985, and river growth, smolt age, and growth in Lake Mjøsa are compared. Only wild fish were included in the study. The main pattern throughout this period shows an increased river growth rate before smoltification and reduced smolt age. The average smolt age dropped from 4.7 years in 1909 to 4.1 years in 1985, and at the same time smolt size decreased from 26.8 cm to 25.1 cm. Considering the major changes in abiotic factors in the river spawning section, the changes in age structure and growth of brown trout smolt are comparatively small. In Lake Mjøsa, increased productivity due to input of nutrients has obviously favoured forage fish such as smelt (Osmerus eperlanus (L.)) and vendace (Coregonus albula (L.)). The growth rate of brown trout in the lake has improved from 1909 to 1961 and 1985, followed by a reduced spawning age. However, due to increased human exploitation the average length of ascending fish (approximately 68 cm) and condition factor ( K = 1.14–1.16) have altered little.     

Salmonid habitat modelling studies and their contribution to the development of an ecologically acceptable release policy for Kielder Reservoir,North‐east England

1. Kielder Reservoir regulates the Rivers North Tyne and Tyne. It provides a regular supply of water for downstream users, supports abstractions for a major water transfer scheme and provides hydroelectric power (HEP). Kielder's release regime typically alternates between a 1.3 m³ s⁻¹ compensation flow and 10–15 m³ s⁻¹ HEP releases of between 3 and 7 days in duration. Occasionally releases of up to 30 m³ s⁻¹ are made for the purpose of encouraging fish runs, for recreational events or to help in water quality management. The impacts of this release regime on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) habitat at four sites on the North Tyne are assessed and alternative regimes, designed to minimize impacts, are presented. 2. There is no evidence that the compensation flow results in extreme loss of instream habitat. A discharge of 1.3 m³ s⁻¹ ensures that water is maintained over most of the channel area at sites representative of upper, middle and lower sections of the North Tyne. This discharge lies above breaks in slope of respective site discharge versus wetted area curves; thus, disproportionate increases in discharge would be needed to increase wetted area. Simulations using the Physical Habitat Simulation System (PHABSIM) suggest that the compensation flow provides between 50% and 90% of the maximum possible weighted usable area (WUA) for juvenile (0+) salmonids. 3. During HEP releases, juvenile salmonid habitat (WUA) apparently falls to between 20 and 40% of site maxima. Newly emerged juvenile fish (March and April) are most affected by HEP releases because they are relatively small (25 mm in length) and water temperatures are relatively low at this time of year. During March and April, critical near‐bed displacement velocities for newly emerged fish may be exceeded across large parts (80%) of sites up to 8 km downstream from Kielder Reservoir; fish would either be displaced downstream or forced to relocate to flow refuge areas. 4. The availability of Atlantic salmon spawning habitat (WUA) at a key site is limited by the compensation flow; 1.3 m³ s⁻¹ provides approximately one third of the habitat available at the optimum discharge (4 m³ s⁻¹). At this site, a discharge of approximately 2 m³ s⁻¹ is needed to ensure most of the bed is inundated by water. Regulation has reduced the duration of flows exceeding 2 m³ s⁻¹ from 90 to 60% of the spawning season. 5. Simulations suggest that when discharge drops from 30 m³ s⁻¹ to the compensation flow, up to 60% of the optimum spawning habitat available at the former discharge may be left stranded (dry). This could potentially lead to egg or alevin mortality. 6. PHABSIM simulations suggest that increasing the compensation flow to 4 m³ s⁻¹ during the spawning period (November and December) is likely to increase the availability of suitable spawning habitat. Also, increasing the compensation flow to 2 m³ s⁻¹ during the incubation period (January through March) would minimize redd stranding. Reductions in the number of HEP releases in March and April would limit the extent to which newly emerged fish are exposed to velocities that potentially displace them. Such changes to the Kielder release regime may have implications for water resource management. While it is important that the biological instream flow requirements of the North Tyne are incorporated into the Kielder operating policy, these should be integrated along with the need for channel maintenance flows, downstream water supply abstractions and HEP generation, as well as for transfers of water to other catchments. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Episodic nearshore-offshore exchanges of hypoxic waters along the north shore of Lake Erie

We investigate the nearshore-offshore exchange of hypoxic waters during episodic coastal upwelling events in the nearshore waters of northern Lake Erie using intensive field observations and a validated hydrodynamic and water quality model. We observe wind-induced coastal upwelling events to be the dominant nearshore physical process in the lake which are energized every 5–10 days. When the winds were predominantly blowing from the west or south-west, epilimnetic waters were transported to the offshore bringing in hypolimnetic waters with low temperature (8–10 °C), dissolved oxygen (DO: 0–6 mg L^?1) and pH (6–7) to the nearshore zones. During these events, vertical diffusivity coefficients decreased from 10^?2 m² s^?1 to values as low as ~ 10^?7 m² s^?1. In late summer, the coastal upwelling events in the nearshore waters lower the near bottom DO to hypoxic levels (DO < 2 mg L^?1). Lake-wide observations of DO and pH show that they are positively and linearly correlated while in the nearshore DO and pH experience spatial and temporal variability where upwelling events were developed, which were further assessed using a three-dimensional model. The model accuracy to reproduce offshore hypoxia was first assessed on a lake-wide basis using a coarse resolution model for a five-year period (2008–2012) and in nearshore waters using a higher resolution model for 2013. We use the model results to delineate the near bottom areas experiencing hypoxia at time scales longer than 48 h.     

The Interplay between Environmental Conditions and Filamentous Algae Mat Formation in Two Agricultural Influenced South African Rivers

The regulation of nutrient inputs into rivers dominated by agriculture land use activities is an important aspect of ecological resilience of aquatic systems and the management of river eutrophication. The overabundance of benthic filamentous algae mats in river systems due to nutrient enrichment can modify the habitats of macroinvertebrate and fish communities as well as clogging irrigation crop sprayers of downstream water users. The current study examined over a period of 2 years (2013–2014) the interplay between physical and chemical river characteristics and epilithic filamentous algae biomass in two South African agricultural influenced rivers. The study area consisted of the Touw and Duiwe Rivers, which run into a proclaimed Ramsar site, namely, the Wilderness Lake System. A strong positive correlation was observed between the maximum filamentous algae biomass (97 chl‐a mg m^?2) observed during the dry season and the average water column alkalinity >30 mg l^?1. The benthic trophic status of the nine sampling sites during the dry seasons indicated the highest benthic algae biomass with mesotrophic (1.7–21 chl‐a mg m^?2) to hypertrophic (>84 chl‐a mg m^?2) conditions. During the dry season, only three sampling sites were below the suggested guideline value (35 µg l^?1) for total phosphorus (TP), while four sampling sites were below the total nitrogen guideline of 252 µg l^?1. In the wet season, two sites were below TP values with five sites below total nitrogen guideline values. From the data gathered, it was evident that water column alkalinity and hardness were the main drivers for the formation or absence of benthic filamentous algae mats in the two river systems and that nitrogen and/or phosphorus concentrations was overshadowed by the physical and chemical characteristics of the river systems at certain sites. Nutrient results for the river bottom sediments revealed that the sediment qualities were variable at the different sampling sites, but more specifically along the longitudinal paths of flow. It was apparent that the high TP concentrations in the water column and bottom sediment, which were lowest during the dry season, were associated with the highest epilithic filamentous algae mat formation. The outcome of the current study shows that a more holistic approach must be followed for the development of future eutrophication guidelines and nutrient thresholds in South African rivers influenced by agriculture land use activities. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variability in benthic respiration in three southeastern Australian lowland rivers

Benthic respiration is an important measure of decomposition processes occurring in streams, but our understanding of benthic respiration in lowland rivers is not well developed, particularly the factors that affect benthic respiration. In our study we measured benthic respiration at three sites in three contrasting lowland rivers in southeastern Australia. On most sampling occasions, rates of oxygen consumption in benthic chambers were linear. However, oxygen consumption rates fitted exponential decay curves during periods of highest microbial activity. Benthic community respiration ranged from 289 to 619 mg O₂ m² d^?1 in the Broken River, from 178 to 1438 mg O₂ m² d^?1 in the River Murray and from 127 to 2178 mg O₂ m² d^?1 in the Ovens River. Benthic respiration was closely correlated with water temperature, but not with sediment carbon content, sediment particle size, water column nutrients or water column dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Average carbon turnover periods were between 1.7 and 6 years for the three rivers, but were as low as 0.1 year immediately following an event that gave rise to mobilization of in‐stream dissolved organic carbon, sufficient to produce coloured water. The latter occurred in the Ovens River as a consequence of a rain event during a period of base‐flow. Flow regime as such did not have a major impact on benthic community respiration. Induced changes in respiration, by altering flows, would only occur by altering the quality and timing of carbon inputs, since temperature and carbon quality, rather than quantity, appear more important in determining lowland river benthic respiration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regulation leads to increases in riparian vegetation,but not direct allochthonous inputs,along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon,Arizona

Dams and associated river regulation have led to the expansion of riparian vegetation, especially nonnative species, along downstream ecosystems. Nonnative saltcedar is one of the dominant riparian plants along virtually every major river system in the arid western United States, but allochthonous inputs have never been quantified along a segment of a large river that is dominated by saltcedar. We developed a novel method for estimating direct allochthonous inputs along the 387 km‐long reach of the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam that utilized a GIS vegetation map developed from aerial photographs, empirical and literature‐derived litter production data for the dominant vegetation types, and virtual shorelines of annual peak discharge (566 m³ s^?1 stage elevation). Using this method, we estimate that direct allochthonous inputs from riparian vegetation for the entire reach studied total 186 metric tons year^?1, which represents mean inputs of 470 gAFDM m^?1 year^?1 of shoreline or 5.17 gAFDM m^?2 year^?1 of river surface. These values are comparable to allochthonous inputs for other large rivers and systems that also have sparse riparian vegetation. Nonnative saltcedar represents a significant component of annual allochthonous inputs (36% of total direct inputs) in the Colorado River. We also estimated direct allochthonous inputs for 46.8 km of the Colorado River prior to closure of Glen Canyon Dam using a vegetation map that was developed from historical photographs. Regulation has led to significant increases in riparian vegetation (270–319% increase in cover, depending on stage elevation), but annual allochthonous inputs appear unaffected by regulation because of the lower flood peaks on the post‐dam river. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MACROINVERTEBRATE RESPONSE TO FLOW CHANGES IN A SUBALPINE STREAM: PREDICTIONS FROM TWO‐DIMENSIONAL HYDRODYNAMIC MODELS

Two‐dimensional hydrodynamic models are being used increasingly as alternatives to traditional one‐dimensional instream flow methodologies for assessing adequacy of flow and associated faunal habitat. Two‐dimensional modelling of habitat has focused primarily on fishes, but fish‐based assessments may not model benthic macroinvertebrate habitat effectively. We extend two‐dimensional techniques to a macroinvertebrate assemblage in a high‐elevation stream in the Sierra Nevada (Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, CA, USA). This stream frequently flows at less than 0.03 m³ s^?1 in late summer and is representative of a common water abstraction scenario: maximum water abstraction coinciding with seasonally low flows. We used two‐dimensional modelling to predict invertebrate responses to reduced flows that might result from increased abstraction. We collected site‐specific field data on the macroinvertebrate assemblage, bed topography and flow conditions and then coupled a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model with macroinvertebrate indices to evaluate habitat across a range of low flows. Macroinvertebrate indices were calculated for the wetted area at each flow. A surrogate flow record based on an adjacent watershed was used to evaluate frequency and duration of low flow events. Using surrogate historical records, we estimated that flow should fall below 0.071 m³ s^?1 at least 1 day in 82 of 95 years and below 0.028 m³ s^?1 in 48 of 95 years. Invertebrate metric means indicated minor losses in response to modelled discharge reductions, but wetted area decreased substantially. Responses of invertebrates to water abstraction will likely be a function of changing habitat quantity rather than quality. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupled Hydrological/Hydraulic Modelling of River Restoration Impacts and Floodplain Hydrodynamics

Channelization and embankment of rivers has led to major ecological degradation of aquatic habitats worldwide. River restoration can be used to restore favourable hydrological conditions for target species or processes. However, the effects of river restoration on hydraulic and hydrological processes are complex and are often difficult to determine because of the long‐term monitoring required before and after restoration works. Our study is based on rarely available, detailed pre‐restoration and post‐restoration hydrological data collected from a wet grassland meadow in Norfolk, UK, and provides important insights into the hydrological effects of river restoration. Groundwater hydrology and climate were monitored from 2007 to 2010. Based on our data, we developed coupled hydrological/hydraulic models of pre‐embankment and post‐embankment conditions using the MIKE‐SHE/MIKE 11 system. Simulated groundwater levels compared well with observed groundwater. Removal of the river embankments resulted in widespread floodplain inundation at high river flows (>1.7 m³ s^?1) and frequent localized flooding at the river edge during smaller events (>0.6 m³ s^?1). Subsequently, groundwater levels were higher and subsurface storage was greater. The restoration had a moderate effect on flood peak attenuation and improved free drainage to the river. Our results suggest that embankment removal can increase river–floodplain hydrological connectivity to form a more natural wetland ecotone, driven by frequent localized flood disturbance. This has important implications for the planning and management of river restoration projects that aim to enhance floodwater storage, floodplain species composition and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. © 2016 The Authors. River Research and Applications Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.