近10年辽河干流水质综合评价

针对辽河水质存在污染严重的问题,对其干流2008-2017年10年间的水质状况采用模糊综合评价和隶属度加权平均处理的方法进行了研究。结果表明:根据对水质的主要评价指标即溶解氧、化学需氧量和氨氮3个指标的综合评价与分析,铁岭朱尔山国控监测断面溶解氧的指标在3个评价指标中所占的最大权重是72%,盘锦兴安国控监测断面的溶解氧指标在3个评价指标中所占的最大权重是57%,两个断面水质的溶解氧指标平均值分别为7. 13和6. 66 mg/L,同时给出了水质变化的时空分布,2011年后朱尔山断面水质在2. 23~1. 34之间变化,2013年后兴安断面水质在2. 26~1. 36之间变化,朱尔山断面水质优于兴安断面,水质明显变好,治理成效显著。研究结果对辽河干流水质污染治理有重要意义。     

Long-term variations of water quality in a reservoir in China

To study the spatial and temporal trends of water quality in the Yuqiao Reservoir (Ji County, Tianjin) in China, water quality data for ten physical and chemical parameters from three monitoring stations (S1, S2 and S3) was collected from 1989 to 2007 and from an other three stations (S4, S5 and S6) during the period of 1999-2007. A one-way ANOVA was employed to evaluate the spatial variation of water quality for each station. The results showed that there were statistically significant spatial differences for most water quality parameters except temperature and dissolved oxygen in the entire reservoir, and the concentrations of most parameters were higher in the uppermost part of the reservoir. The temporal trend study was conducted using the Seasonal-Kendall's test. The results revealed improving trends of water quality from 1989 to 2007, including a reduction of total phosphorous, temperature and biochemical oxygen demand and an increase of dissolved oxygen. High N:P ratios, ranging from 52.61 to 78.75, indicated that the reservoir was a phosphorous-limited environment. This study suggests long-term spatial and temporal variations of water quality in the Yuqiao Reservoir, which could be informative for water quality managers and scientists.     

查干湖水体溶解氧浓度的变化趋势及影响因素分析

通过多年对查干湖水质的监测以及近几年逐月监测参数,综合分析水体溶解氧变化趋势和驱动机制,总结出导致溶解氧浓度降低的原因,除了光合作用影响外,溶解氧浓度较低的补给潜水、水体中存在的还原性物质也是主要因素。提出将潜水变为地表水、增加对水体中还原性物质的转化能力等增加溶解氧的措施。     

INFLUENCE OF SCALE ON THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS IN A LARGE MONTANE RIVER BASIN

This study monitored stream temperatures over two hydrological years at various nested scales within the large, unregulated river Dee catchment (North East Scotland). These scales were (i) the whole catchment (11 sites along main stem Dee); (ii) the tributary (single sites in main tributaries); (iii) the Girnock (five sites in one subcatchment); and (iv) the reach (26 points across single reach). The aim was to characterize the thermal regime of all locations and compare the magnitude of variation between each scale. The controls on this variation were assessed via a multiple linear regression model using Geographic Information System‐derived catchment data. Temperatures were collected at 15‐min resolution and for further analysis and discussion combined to daily means. At the catchment and subcatchment scales, a west to east gradient in mean and minimum temperatures was observed, largely paralleling changes in altitude. Temperature differences between subcatchments were generally greater than between the sites along the main stem of the Dee. Differences between tributaries reflected differences in their morphology and land use. However, some tributaries had similar thermal regimes, despite different catchment and riparian characteristics. Subcatchment differences in thermal regimes of one of the tributaries corresponded to riparian vegetation reduced diurnal variability in sections dominated by broadleaf woodland. Compared with the larger scales, reach differences in thermal regime were small (e.g. mean temperatures of riffle, pool and margin habitats were within 0.3°C). The most noticeable difference was in relation to the point samples within the backwater area, which has a more constant thermal regime, most probably reflecting its groundwater source. The regression analysis indicated that monthly mean temperatures can be predicted well using elevation and catchment area. Forest cover was a significant explanatory variable during the summer months. However, some of the empirical temperature data from the Dee indicate that similar thermal regimes can result from different physical controls and processes that have important implications for the extrapolation of such predictive models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Feasibility Assessment of Data-Driven Models in Predicting Pollution Trends of Omerli Lake,Turkey

Data-driven models are commonly used in a wide range of disciplines, including environmental engineering. To analyze Omerli Lake’s historic water pollution status, this study monitors data for dissolved oxygen, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and ortho phosphate. The quality of the lake water is assessed based on measurements of dissolved oxygen. The collected data are analyzed using regression analysis and artificial neural network models. The main goal of this paper is to reveal the best applicable data-driven model in order to gain forward-looking information regarding the dissolved oxygen level of the lake using other pollution parameters. In order to ascertain eutrophic status, total phosphorus loads for each year are represented on a Vollenweider diagram. Results designate an increasing risk of eutrophication for Omerli Lake in recent years. Results of the data-driven models show that the artificial neural networks model constitutes the best relationship between the dissolved oxygen and other parameters.     

Temporal scale effect of loading data on instream nitrate-nitrogen load computation

The temporal scale effect of loading data on nitrate-nitrogen load computation was examined using outputs of watershed modeling tool Hydrologic Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) for the Amite River in Louisiana, USA. The daily nitrate-nitrogen concentrations simulated using the HSPF were employed first to obtain daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly average data and then to develop load duration curves for the data with four different temporal scales. The duration curves exhibited high variability in the load estimated using daily data as compared with those based on bi-weekly and monthly data. According to daily data, the nitrate-nitrogen load in the winter was found to be 2,780 kg. The nitrate-nitrogen load decreased with increasing temporal (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly) scale (commonly used in water quality monitoring) of the data. The coefficient of variation, used to quantify the effect of temporal scale on the load, was found to be linearly and inversely correlated with the logarithm of the time scale. Based on the finding, empirical equations were proposed to extrapolate near real-time data for flow and nitrate-nitrogen, greatly simplifying nutrient monitoring and reducing the cost involved in water quality monitoring.     

Can water level stations be used for thermal assessment in aquatic ecosystem?

Many studies focus on stream water temperature (WT) because it is considered a key ecological factor. However, few of them have investigated the use of WT data from water level monitoring networks, which often measure WT as ancillary data. Our study was conducted in southern Belgium at a high temporal resolution with continuous data recorded at intervals of 10 min between 2012 and 2016 and large spatial scale greater than 16,000 km². This study aimed to assess whether a regional water level network (140 stations) is reliable for continuous WT monitoring based on a Bland–Altman analysis with WT collected through a European monitoring network (Water Framework Directive). This study also investigates whether WT data acquired by water level stations can be used to perform both state‐of‐the‐art visualization of thermal regimes and spatio‐temporal queries for specific ecological monitoring. We found that the water level stations were reliable tools in recording continuous WT in the streams of the study area. The temperature difference between the two WT monitoring networks was ?0.57°C on average. Our positive results promote the use of WT from water level stations in order to globally characterize the thermal regime of streams as well as to provide spatial or temporal information on this regime at high frequencies. As an example, our data showed the effectiveness for brown trout (Salmo trutta fario L.) in spatializing thermal risk areas related to the thermal requirement of this fish species; in 2015, 19% of stations located in brown trout fish zone recorded temperatures above 25°C.     

Catchment‐scale controls on groundwater–surface water interactions in the hyporheic zone: implications for salmon embryo survival

The spatial and temporal variability of groundwater–surface water (GW–SW) interactions in the hyporheic zone were investigated in a semi‐pristine upland salmon spawning catchment (Girnock Burn) in the Cairngorm Mountains, northeast Scotland. Stream and hyporheic water quality (200–300 mm depth) were monitored fortnightly at 16 spawning locations distributed throughout the catchment. Hydrochemical tracers were used to assess local GW–SW interactions. Stratified streambed incubators (50–300 mm) provided information on salmon embryo mortality at a sub‐set of ten locations. Hyporheic water quality varied both temporally and spatially according to local GW–SW interactions. It was possible to categorize sites into three broad typologies reflecting local stream–aquifer interactions: (1) groundwater‐dominated; (2) surface water‐dominated; and (3) sites exhibiting transient water table features. Groundwater upwelling occurred in areas where low permeability glacial moraine features caused substantive valley constriction. These locations were also conducive to accumulation of spawning grade gravels and consequently were utilized heavily by spawning salmon. Long residence groundwater was typically characterized by low dissolved oxygen (DO), of sufficiently low quality to be detrimental to salmon embryo survival. At sites dominated by surface water, hyporheic DO remained high throughout and rates of embryo survival were correspondingly high. Survival rates were also high at sites where hydrochemical characteristics indicated a transient water table. This is probably attributable to the hydrological conditions which resulted in increasing DO concentrations towards hatch time when embryo oxygen demand is at its maximum. The degree to which the findings of this study are directly applicable to other catchments is currently unknown. However, similar effects have been observed elsewhere, and based on the information presented here, there are clear implications for fisheries managers who may wish to consider the use of surface incubation facilities to negate the effects of low DO groundwater upwelling where it dominates available spawning habitat. It is suggested that future research should aim to integrate across spatial scales and disciplines to obtain a better understanding of the ways in which hillslope and riparian zone hydrology affect GW–SW interactions, hyporheic zone processes and stream ecology. © Crown copyright 2005. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water quality prediction capabilities of WASP model for a tropical lake system

Water quality modelling facilitates our better understanding of the processes taking place in a lake system, and conservation plans to address them. The water quality analysis simulation programme (WASP) was used in this study to predict daily variations in water quality parameters, namely dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll‐a and biochemical oxygen demand concentrations in a tropical lake system. The lake was divided into eight segments with the respective morphological, environmental and flow details being model inputs. The monthly concentration of each water quality parameter also comprised model input. The model output was daily spatiotemporal variation in these parameters over a period of 476 days. This study also indicated that the occurrence of precipitation plays a major role in defining the water quality of a tropical lake. The heavy precipitation after a long gap, especially during the summer season, results in a large quantity of organic matter entering the lake through drains, thereby increasing the organic matter and phosphate in the water body, and subsequently resulting in high chlorophyll‐a concentrations in the lake. A reduced chlorophyll‐a concentration was observed during the heavy rains. The water quality fluctuations are more pronounced with precipitation, especially where polluted drains enter the lake. An improved water quality can be observed downstream, including increased dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentrations. Improved water quality was observed during the postmonsoon period, with increased salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations, a finding that confirms generalized and specific conclusions can be achieved with the use of the WASP model.     

Dynamic variation of supernatant quality in a dairy shed waste stabilisation pond system.

An intensive monitoring program of a standard two-stage dairy shed waste stabilisation pond system was undertaken to determine the incidence and extent of spatial and temporal variation of basic physio-chemical parameters, and to shed light on the longer term dynamic nature of in-pond conditions. The anaerobic-facultative pond system, located in a remote rural area, treats wastewater from the hosing down and hydraulic flushing of the milking parlour and holding yard at the farm dairy shed. A number of multi-parameter water quality field monitoring probes were permanently deployed at various locations within the two ponds to enable continuous measurement of temperature, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. In addition, profiling of the supernatant of both ponds was undertaken at different times of the year to examine vertical variation of the same parameters. Continuous monitoring revealed spatial homogeneity in EC and pH levels in the upper metre of both ponds. Physio-chemical parameters also appear to change uniformly across the ponds in response to external stimuli such as rainfall. Neither pond, however, exhibits homogeneity down the profile of the supernatant. Seasonal stratification is prevalent in the facultative pond suggesting poor vertical mixing, while the anaerobic pond is notably affected by sludge accumulation. A long-term pattern of rising conductivity in both ponds indicated accumulation of dissolved salt species in the system due to recirculation of reclaimed effluent for hydraulic flushing of the dairy shed. In the facultative pond, diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential and turbidity during warmer months of the year closely followed temperature swings. The extensive data collected in this study provides a detailed picture of the physio-chemical dynamics of two-stage stabilisation pond systems treating dairy shed wastewater.     

Using wavelet analysis to detect changes in water temperature regimes at multiple scales: effects of multi‐purpose dams in the Willamette River basin

Maintaining the natural complexity of water temperature regimes is a key to maintaining diverse biological communities. Insect communities, food webs, and fish respond to the magnitude and duration of water temperature fluctuations. Disruption of these natural patterns has the potential to alter physiological processes, behavioural adaptations, and community structure and dynamics. We analysed multiple >300‐day time series of water temperature from the Willamette River basin, Oregon, to assess the impact of large multi‐purpose dams on water temperature variability at temporal scales ranging from 1 to 32 days, short temporal scales that are commonly ignored. We applied wavelet analysis to quantify the variability of water temperature at multiple temporal scales simultaneously. We compared water temperature regimes above and below dams and before and after dam construction. The advantages of wavelet analysis are the ability to examine all temporal scales simultaneously and independently as well as the ability to preserve the temporal context of the wavelet coefficients. We were able to detect significant (p < 0.0001) reductions in water temperature variability, defined as the variability of the wavelet coefficients, as a result of dams at the 1‐, 2‐, 4‐, and 8‐day scales. There were no significant differences in water temperature variability between managed and natural flows at the 16‐ and 32‐day scale (p = 0.80). In addition to the well‐documented effects of dams on seasonal patterns in water temperature or on water temperature extremes, our results demonstrate that dams have significantly muted the small temporal scale variance in water temperature patterns to which many organisms may have been adapted. Conserving or restoring natural temperature patterns in rivers will require attention to these small‐scale complexities. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于遥感的内陆水体水质监测研究进展

从遥感数据、反演方法和水质参数三方面综述了水质遥感监测的研究进展,介绍了国内外常用遥感数据,对比了分析法、经验法、半经验法、机器学习和综合法五种反演方法的优缺点,总结了叶绿素a、悬浮物、有色可溶性有机物等光敏参数和化学需氧量、生化需氧量、总磷和总氮等非光敏参数的研究进展。目前内陆水体水质遥感监测在卫星传感器的针对性、反演算法的时空局限性、水质参数光谱特征的复杂性、大气校正的精确性和特殊类型水体的水质监测等方面还存在问题;指出未来水质遥感监测应围绕新型遥感数据、通用反演模型、不同光谱特征、精确大气校正和特殊水体分类等方面开展。     

基于水质指数法的城市河流水质综合评价研究

依据江门市泥海水水质2020年9月的5个断面的监测数据,以溶解氧(DO)、高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)、化学需氧量(COD)、氨氮(NH3-N)、总磷(TP)作为CWQI模型的5个主要变量对河道水质进行综合评价.分析结果表明:各监测点的CODMn和 COD均满足Ⅳ类水质要求,TP基本满足Ⅳ类水质要求,DO污染较为严重,N...     

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERING CHANNEL MICROFORMS IN GROUNDWATER MODELS OF HYPORHEIC EXCHANGE

The infiltration of stream water in the sediment and its return to the stream—a process known here as hyporheic exchange flows (HEF)—is a critical control of the structure and functions of the stream ecosystem. River restoration programmes will increasingly require quantitative methods for evaluating this influence. Previous studies have already shown the potential of numerical groundwater models to characterize HEF and compare restoration scenarios. Although various sources of uncertainty are acknowledged, the potential effect of small streambed structures (or microforms), such as grains or ripples, embedded in channel‐unit scale structures (or macroforms), such as riffle‐pool sequences, is commonly ignored. Here, a simple conceptualization through a 2‐D vertical model is used to test whether (i) ignoring microforms in groundwater models at the macroform scale can impact estimations of residence times; (ii) microforms can influence HEF patterns driven by macroforms; and conversely (iii) the uncertainty of head measurements in stream piezometers can affect our understanding of HEF patterns. Results show that (i) residence times and flux estimations can be strongly affected by the modeller's choice to represent microform‐induced HEF or not; (ii) the interaction of the microform and macroform scales can induce various subsurface flow patterns; and (iii) the perceived significance of microform‐induced HEF is highly sensitive to the uncertainty of in‐stream measurements of subsurface heads. Little is known about the relative efficiency of these microform and macroform scales, which are effectively influencing exchange at different depths and interacting with each other. Future studies that consider biogeochemical cycling or streambed ecology should be placed in this context. It is also necessary to find ways of including this source of uncertainty in groundwater models of HEF. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PAIRED STREAM–AIR TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS REVEAL FINE‐SCALE THERMAL HETEROGENEITY WITHIN HEADWATER BROOK TROUT STREAM NETWORKS

Previous studies of climate change impacts on stream fish distributions commonly project the potential patterns of habitat loss and fragmentation due to elevated stream temperatures at a broad spatial scale (e.g. across regions or an entire species range). However, these studies may overlook potential heterogeneity in climate change vulnerability within local stream networks. We examined fine‐scale stream temperature patterns in two headwater brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis stream networks (7.7 and 4.4 km) in Connecticut, USA, by placing a combined total of 36 pairs of stream and air temperature loggers that were approximately 300 m apart from each other. Data were collected hourly from March to October 2010. The summer of 2010 was hot (the second hottest on record) and had well below average precipitation, but stream temperature was comparable with those of previous 2 years because streamflow was dominated by groundwater during base‐flow conditions. Nonlinear regression models revealed stream temperature variation within local stream networks, particularly during warmest hours of the day (i.e. late afternoon to evening) during summer. Thermal variability was primarily observed between stream segments, versus within a stream segment (i.e. from confluence to confluence). Several cold tributaries were identified in which stream temperature was much less responsive to air temperature. Our findings suggested that regional models of stream temperature would not fully capture thermal variation at the local scale and may misrepresent thermal resilience of stream networks. Groundwater appeared to play a major role in creating the fine‐scale spatial thermal variation, and characterizing this thermal variation is needed for assessing climate change impacts on headwater species accurately. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of hydrology on water quality and trophic state of irrigation reservoirs in Sri Lanka

Many reservoirs provide multiple benefits to people around the world, in addition to primary uses such as irrigation. Thus, reservoir management should address their multiple uses. The water quality of ten irrigation reservoirs in Sri Lanka was examined in the present study with the objective of better understanding the effects of hydrological regimes on reservoir water quality and trophic state. Basic limnological parameters pertinent to the nutrient loads to, and trophic state of, the reservoirs were collected from June 2013 to February 2016. The sampling period was arbitrarily divided into two periods of approximately similar duration (period 1 = June 2013–September 2014; period 2 = October 2014–February 2016) to investigate whether or not there was a seasonal variation in the water quality parameters. Although temporal and spatial variations were observed, most water quality parameters were within the levels acceptable for drinking water standards. The 10 reservoirs were also ordinated by principal component analysis (PCA) on the basis of the water quality parameters of the two sampling periods in a two‐dimensional score plot. Reservoirs in the first principal component (PC1) axis were represented by negative scores attributable to the dissolved oxygen concentration and pH and, to a lesser extent, by electrical conductivity and chlorophyll‐a concentration. Positive scores in PC1 were represented by reservoirs with a score loading attributable to alkalinity, nitrate concentration, Secchi depth, temperature and seston weight and, to a lesser extent, from the total phosphorus concentration. There was a significant negative correlation of PC1 scores with relative reservoir water‐level fluctuation (RRLF; the ratio of mean reservoir water‐level amplitude to mean reservoir depth). Furthermore, Carlson's trophic index also were influenced by RRLF, although not by hydraulic retention time (HRT), indicating allochthonous nutrient inputs into the irrigation reservoirs were mainly governed by RRLF, but not by HRT. Thus, the results of the present study provide useful insights into achieving desirable reservoir water quality through the manipulation of the hydrological regime.     

Spatio‐temporal trends of nutrients and physico‐chemical parameters on lake ecosystem and fisheries prior to onset of cage farming and re‐opening of the Mbita passage in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria

Many large lake ecosystems are experiencing increasing eutrophication and persistent cyanobacteria‐dominated algal blooms affecting their water quality and ecosystem productivity because of widespread non‐point and point nutrient sources. Accordingly, the present study utilized data of July 2003 and January–February 2004, as well as previous measurements of nutrients and physico‐chemical variables (electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, turbidity and chlorophyll‐a), to characterize the spatial and temporal trends, as a means of better understanding the factors influencing lake environmental conditions, as support tools for long‐term ecosystem management and for better understanding the long‐term trends and effects. Inshore gulf areas were found to represent zones of maximum nutrient concentrations, compared to the deep main lake zones, with significant inter‐parameter correlations. Phosphorus, silicon and chlorophyll‐a concentrations were significantly correlated. Water electrical conductivity was also significantly and positively correlated with soluble reactive silicon (SRSi), alkalinity hardness DO, while exhibiting a negative association with water transparency. Water turbidity and transparency, electrical conductivity, and SRSi concentrations clearly describe a gradient from the gulf into the main lake. For such a shallow gulf, these findings suggest primary productivity is influenced mainly by the availability of nutrients, light transparency and the extent of availability of resuspended nutrients. The increasing eutrophic state of Lake Victoria is a serious concern since it contributes to an increased potential of more frequent occurrences of cyanobacterial blooms, a potential public health risk to both humans and wildlife. Improved understanding of influences from previous fish species introductions and concomitant changes in indigenous fish species, increased lake basin population and anthropogenic activities, water hyacinth resurgences, sustainability of biodiversity, and current interests in cage farming, are among the major concerns and challenges facing the contemporary Lake Victoria. The trends regarding nutrients and physico‐chemical characteristics are intended to support better monitoring efforts and data to promote the lake's ecosystem services and the sustainable management of the lake ecosystem.     

重要水源地小流域水环境动态模拟及调控研究

本研究选取北京密云水库上游曹家路小流域为对象,通过野外监测和模型计算的方法对小流域水环境进行动态模拟及调控研究。综合运用水文学、水环境学、数理统计和地理信息系统等方法,并结合野外监测、实验室分析和计算机模拟等手段,建立了小流域半分布式水文模型和一维河道水质模型。运用该模型对曹家路小流域的水质状况进行了模拟计算,得到了流域出口断面NH3-N、Os、BOD、COD和TN等水质因子的总体特征和全年全时段变化过程。根据1956~2000年的水文数据,分析了流域特征水文年水环境的动态变化,提出了相应的水质保护和水环境容量利用综合调控方案,并依据区域的经济发展进行了水环境动态规划。     

Characterization of water quality in a small hydropower plant reservoir in southern Brazil

The construction of large reservoirs can cause profound environmental changes. Reduced water flow, increased water residence time, thermal stratification, increased sedimentation rates and decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations are examples of such changes. These changes can affect water quality and the biota in the environments adapted to the natural conditions of a river. Small reservoirs developed in conjunction with hydropower plants, however, could reduce the degraded water quality. This study focuses on characterizing water quality in a small hydroelectric reservoir. The study reservoir has an area of 1.4 km² and a short water retention time. The Monte Claro Hydroelectric Power Plant is part of a complex consisting of three plants on the Antas River in the north‐west of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The reservoirs associated with these plants are operated as run‐of‐the‐river facilities. Monitoring results obtained by CERAN, the Energetic Company of Antas River (Companhia Energética Rio das Antas), were used to evaluate the reservoir water quality. Three samples were collected seasonally (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in the area of influence of this plant following the filling of the reservoir (2005–2008). The examined water quality parameters were electrical conductivity, colour, turbidity, alkalinity, pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, sulphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, suspended and dissolved solids, chlorophyll‐a, total and faecal coliforms, water temperature and Secchi depth transparency. The results were interpreted using an index of water quality, Trophic State Index, reservoir water quality and CONAMA Regulation 357/05 (Brazilian legislation). Based on these analyses, no significant changes were exhibited in the water quality of the reservoir from the hydroelectric plant operation.     

An Evaluation of Streamflow Augmentation as a Short‐Term Freshwater Mussel Conservation Strategy

Recurrent and prolonged droughts, coupled with increased water resource demand, threaten freshwater mussel populations through stream drying and water quality degradation. Augmentation of stream discharge was proposed as a short‐term strategy to maintain adequate streamflows and water quality in reaches with important freshwater mussel populations during exceptionally low flow periods. We investigated the effects of water augmentation on seven freshwater mussel species in a small creek between 2011 and 2014. Using capture‐mark‐recapture methods, we monitored mussel populations in a control reach upstream of an augmentation outlet and two reaches immediately downstream of an augmentation outlet. Water quality measurements during our study indicated that augmentation improved water temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions during low flow periods. For all mussel species, apparent survival was positively related to minimum streamflows and declined precipitously as streamflows decreased. However, mean apparent survival between sampling occasions was high among all species but did not differ among treatment units, suggesting that flow augmentation rates in this study were insufficient for abating the effects of basin‐wide reductions in streamflow. Temporary emigration differed among study reaches but did not support hypothesized relationships because it increased with stream stage and was highest in an augmented reach. This suggests that streamflows did not drop below thresholds, which invoked burrowing as a response to decreased streamflows. Streamflow augmentation may be a viable short‐term mussel conservation strategy in small streams but will likely require higher augmentation volume capacity than evaluated during our study. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.