Heavy metals in sediments and uptake by burrowing mayflies in western Lake Erie basin

During the past two decades, burrowing Hexagenia mayflies have returned to the western basin of Lake Erie. Because of their importance as a prey resource for higher trophic levels and their extensive residence time in potentially contaminated sediment, Hexagenia may be a source of heavy metal transfer. To better understand the distribution and transfer of heavy metals in sediment and mayflies, sediment and mayfly nymphs were collected from 24 locations across the western basin of Lake Erie in May 2007. Following USEPA protocols, samples were analyzed for 16 elements using ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Metal concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level for at least one metal at all sample sites. Sediment heavy metal distribution profiles indicate metal concentrations are correlated with organic matter content, and the highest heavy metal concentrations were found in the central deeper region of the western basin where organic content in the sediments was greatest. Hexagenia were distributed throughout the western basin, with greatest density (1350/m²) within the Detroit River plume. The Cd and Zn levels in mayflies were on average approximately 4 and 2 times greater, respectively, than sediment levels, and the Cd concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level at 27 of 28 sites and exceeded the Probable Effect Level at 9 of 28 sites. Spatial representation of heavy metal concentrations in mayflies exhibited a similar pattern to the spatial distribution of heavy metals and organic matter in the sediments with higher concentrations of metals found in mayflies residing in the central deeper region of the western basin.     

Size‐Mediated Effects of Water‐Flow Velocity on Riverine Fish Species

We applied species sensitivity distributions (SSDs), commonly used in chemical risk assessment, to quantify the impact of water‐flow velocity on the presence of fish species in a river. SSDs for water‐flow velocity were derived from observational field data (maximal velocity at which species occur, V_max) and laboratory measurements (critical swimming velocity, V_crit). By calculating the potentially affected fraction of the fish species of the river Rhine, effects of water‐flow velocity on different life stages and guilds were estimated. V_max values for adults were significantly higher than those for juveniles and larvae. At water‐flow velocity of 60 cm s⁻¹, half of the adults were affected, while half of the non‐adult life stages were affected at velocities of 25 to 29 cm s⁻¹. There was a positive correlation between body size and fish tolerance to water‐flow. As expected, rheophilic species tolerated higher water‐flow velocities than eurytopic and limnophilic species. Maximal velocities measured in littoral zones of the Rhine were, on average, 10 cm s⁻¹, corresponding to an affected fraction of 2%. An increase in water‐flow velocity up to 120 cm s⁻¹ as a result of passing vessels caused an increase in affected species to 75%. For a successful ecological river management, the SSD method can be used to quantify the trait‐mediated effects of water‐flow alterations on occurring species enabling to compare and rank the effects of chemical and physical stress. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

弯道推移质泥沙运动特性及其对河道演变的影响

弯曲河道水流、泥沙的运动特性与顺直段不同 ,存在横向流速与横向输沙。在考虑了弯道河段横向水流影响的条件下 ,导出了弯道河段泥沙的起动流速公式 ,并进行了合理性分析 ,认为在相同的纵向流速条件下 ,弯道段凹岸侧泥沙的起动粒径和泥沙输移速率均较顺直段大。同时结合弯道段水流和泥沙的运动特性阐明了弯道河段的演变规律。     

The seasonal and spatial variations of labile copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc sediment fractions in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake with no surface outlet, lying within a closed basin of the Kenyan Rift Valley. It is perceived to be a lake undergoing anthropogenic stresses. This study is intended to determine the speciation of some selected heavy metals in the sediments of Lake Naivasha, as an indicator of potential pollution of the lake. Sediment and water sampling of the lake was conducted in March and May 2003, during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Analyses of the speciation of heavy metals in sediment samples (<63 µm faction) were performed on sediment samples collected from five sites within the lake. The study results obtained indicated that influent Malewa River was not a source of labile copper (Cu), lead (Pb) or zinc, despite the river having the highest percentage clay content during the wet season (86%). Copper was highly distributed in the residual sediment fraction (average of 90%). Among the labile sediment factions, the highest quantity of Cu was in the oxidizable phase (3.58 and 2.30 µg g⁻¹ during the dry and wet season, respectively). Carbonate‐bound Cu was sparingly distributed during both the dry and the wet seasons, ranging between 0.74 and 1.81 µg g⁻¹. Iron was highly distributed in the oxidizable sediment phase, exhibiting concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 (×10³) µg g⁻¹. Relative to the other heavy metals, manganese was distributed in lower proportions in the residual sediment fraction. High concentrations of Pb were observed in the oxidizable phase from most of the sampling sites along the lake shore. Zinc was distributed largely in the oxidizable phase, being highest at sampling site SS, which was located near a municipal sewage input to the lake. The sediments collected at the sampling sites located in the deep portion of the lake exhibited the highest concentrations of labile heavy metals.     

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.     

弯道推移质泥沙运动特性及其对河道演变的影响

弯曲河道水流、泥沙的运动特性与顺直段不同,存在横向流速与横向输沙。在考虑了弯道河段横向水流影响的条件下,导出了弯道河段泥沙的起动流速公式,并进行了合理性分析,认为在相同的纵向流速条件下,弯道段凹岸侧泥沙的起动粒径和泥沙输移速率均较顺直段大。同时结合弯道段水流和泥沙的运动特性阐明了弯道河段的演变规律。     

Two Dimensional Heavy Metal Transport Model for Natural Watercourses

This work presents the development and calibration of a two‐dimensional (depth‐averaged) river flow, sediment transport and heavy metal transport model in natural watercourses. Because heavy metals occur in dissolved and adsorbed phases, implementing the active‐layer concept for sediment transport computation enabled the development of a heavy metal transport model that accounts for pollutant moving in dissolved phase, adsorbed on suspended sediment, adsorbed on bed‐load, deposited in the active‐layer of the river bed or adsorbed on sediment in deeper strata. The proposed concept also enables the modelling of pollutant exchange processes using accessible sediment particle surface area for suspended and bed sediment separately. The presented heavy metal transport model is able to manage sediment mixtures found in natural watercourses using an arbitrary number of sediment size‐classes, distinguishing in this way smaller size‐classes that engage in interaction with the pollutant. Using field measurements for a reach of the Danube River, simulations were conducted for water flow, sediment transport and heavy metal transport. While some discrepancies between measured and computed values for pollutant concentrations were observed, the model reproduced the water and sediment contamination quite reasonably with acceptable mass conservation errors. The simulations also gave an insight in the general behaviour of the monitored heavy metals in the considered river reach. Therefore, it can be concluded that the developed model is suitable for simulating complex flow, sediment transport and heavy metal transport conditions in natural watercourses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial and seasonal variations and ecotoxicological significance of sediment trace metal concentrations in Kebir-Rhumel basin (Northeast of Algeria)

This study sought to assess sediment contamination by trace metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc), to localize contaminated sites and to identify environmental risk for aquatic organisms in Wadis of Kebir Rhumel basin in the Northeast of Algeria. Water and surficial sediments (0-5 cm) were sampled in winter, spring, summer and autumn from 37 sites along permanent Wadis of the Kebir Rhumel basin. Sediment trace metal contents were measured by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Trace metals median concentrations in sediments followed a decreasing order: Mn > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Co > Cd. Extreme values (dry weights) of the trace metals are as follows: 0.6-3.4 microg/g for Cd, 10-216 microg/g for Cr, 9-446 microg/g for Cu, 3-20 microg/g for Co, 105-576 microg/g for Mn, 10-46 microg/g for Ni, 11-167 microg/g for Pb, and 38-641 microg/g for Zn. According to world natural concentrations, all sediments collected were considered as contaminated by one or more elements. Comparing measured concentrations with American guidelines (Threshold Effect Level: TEL and Probable Effect Level: PEL) showed that biological effects could be occasionally observed for cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel levels but frequently observed for copper and zinc levels. Sediment quality was shown to be excellent for cobalt and manganese but medium to bad for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc regardless of sites.     

中国冲积大河的河型分布与成因

结合遥感影像、野外调查和水沙数据,以冲积大河为研究对象,分析中国大河的河型分布及成因。中国大河的冲积河段以弯曲与辫状河型为主,局部河段为分汊与网状河型。综合考虑河型分布的一般性和特殊性,认为相对输沙率(来沙量与输沙能力之比)、相对河岸侵蚀切应力(近岸水流切应力与河岸临界抗冲切应力之比)和河谷地形控制(如节点和宽度)是决定河型成因的3个最主要的因素。     

Movement and summer habitat of brown trout (Salmo trutta) below a pulsed discharge hydroelectric generating station

Radiotelemetry was used to investigate detailed movement and summer habitat of brown trout Salmo trutta (size range 157–488 mm TL, n=18) in the Kananaskis River, Alberta. Flows in the Kananaskis River respond to pulsed daily discharge from an upstream hydroelectric generating facility (range 0.15–25 m³ s⁻¹). Wetted area available for brown trout doubled during periods of high flow. Fluctuating river levels did not appear to influence the degree to which brown trout moved within the study site. However, there was evidence that brown trout used cover and pools more as discharge increased. During high flow conditions, brown trout used similar depths (63 cm), and significantly lower surface water velocities than during low flow conditions. Brown trout also moved closer to shore into interstitial spaces among woody debris and root complexes during high flow. Pool habitats were used most often compared with all other habitat types combined. Pools with large woody debris accounted for 75% of all habitat observations. Woody debris was used more often than all other cover types. Results of the study indicate that the effects of river regulation on brown trout appear to have been moderated by woody debris in pools and along river banks, which provided refuge from high water velocities during periods of high flow. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of heavy metals in sediments and aquatic organisms in West Lake (Ho Tay), Hanoi, Vietnam

West Lake (Ho Tay) is the largest freshlake in Hanoi, Vietnam. It has a surface area of ≈ 500 ha and a total volume of >10⁷ m³, and is 1–3.5 m in depth. West Lake has been classified as needing protection because of its valuable freshwater genetic resources. Noting that it has been extensively affected by pollution, the objective of the present study was to examine the extent of heavy metal contamination of the sediments and commercially important biota in the lake. Heavy metal concentrations in the sediment from most of 24 samples in West Lake exceeded the Ontario Ministry of Environment Screening Level for chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. Aquatic organisms from the lake also were found to be contaminated by heavy metals. The average Zn concentrations in snails and mussels tissues ranged between 174 and 415 µg g⁻¹, and the Pb concentrations between 3.5 and 5.2 µg g⁻¹. The Cu concentration in shrimp (52 µg g⁻¹) and snail (189 µg g⁻¹), and the Pb concentration in all fish species and shrimp from the lake (2.0–5.2 µg g⁻¹) exceeded the Food Standard Australia‐New Zealand (FSANZ) health standards for human consumption. The Cd concentration in Cyprinus carpio also exceeded the FSANZ standard. The implications of these study findings for the effective management of the food and ecological resources of West Lake are discussed.     

长江中游黄州河段采砂影响分析

河道采砂等人类活动对河道演变的影响是河流动力学研究的一个重要课题。以长江黄州河段为例,在实测水沙系列的基础上,采用平面二维水沙数学模型研究了不同流量级下工程河段采砂后水位、流速和汊道分流比等变化规律,并模拟了不同典型年水沙条件下洲滩河段演变过程和采砂区冲淤特性。研究结果表明,在不同流量条件下,随着流量的增加,水位和流速变化幅度有所减小、影响程度降低;分流比对平滩流量反应更加敏感,平滩流量条件下分流比有明显增加;三峡水库蓄水运行后,在不同典型水文年条件下,随着洲滩的冲刷后退加剧,布置在洲尾的采砂区泥沙回淤明显。     

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.     

Past hydraulics influence microhabitat selection by invertebrates and fish in hydropeaking rivers

Hydropeaking hydropower plants are the main source of renewable energy, meeting sub-daily peaks in electricity demand. They induce rapid artificial flow variations, highly variable velocities, drift, and stranding risks for aquatic organisms. In hydropeaking reaches, microhabitat selection likely depends on both present and past hydraulics (flow velocity and water depth); this study aims to assess their relative impact. For this purpose, we used observations of fish abundance in 1,180 microhabitats (507 sampled by electrofishing, 673 by snorkeling) and of invertebrate abundance in 36 microhabitats (hyporheic and benthic) in a medium-sized hydropeaking river. We described past hydraulics of microhabitats over the 15 days preceding sampling, using a 2D hydrodynamic model, by identifying microhabitats dewatering (drying during >10 hr) or with high-velocity conditions (>1.3 m s⁻¹ during >10 hr). Invertebrates guilds (defined based on their selection of present hydraulics in rivers without hydropeaking) responded significantly to past hydraulics, with abundances 3.5–15.3 times lower in dewatering habitats. Selection for present hydraulics by invertebrates was different from that observed in rivers without hydropeaking. For more mobile fish, responses were weaker and different, with a “bank” guild selecting dewatering microhabitats and, secondarily, a “midstream” guild avoiding them. Selection of present hydraulics by fish was similar to that observed in rivers without hydropeaking. Overall, past hydraulics influenced microhabitat selection, with stronger effects on invertebrates and stronger effects of dewatering than of high past velocities. However, high past velocities force fish to move and invertebrates to experience a large range of velocity.     

黄河小浪底水库运用与下游河道防洪减淤问题

黄河下游淤积发展的根本原因是来水流量减少、河运输沙能力严重不足．通过干流小浪底水库“调水调沙”运用，减少下游河道淤积的指导思想，似乎仍然建立在河道输沙能力强，足以将大部分或绝大部分泥沙输送入海的认识基础上．极据黄河下游水沙特性及河道的具体条件，通过试验得出河道输沙能力的关系，分析了不同河段输送各级含沙量需要的输沙流量及游荡性河段在高含沙条件下的演变特性和带来的危害．提出在下游来水量日益减少的情况下，河道减淤除利用水库调节水沙外，应采取出库高含沙水流通过渠道向两岸低地放淤等综合减淤措施．其优点是大大减轻了河道的输沙负担，使小浪底水库不受或少受排沙运用制约而发挥应有的综合利用效益，还可大量节约黄河的输沙用水．     

Development and evaluation of bioenergetic-based habitat suitability criteria for trout

We constructed energetic models of habitat use for 82–322 g rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a large regulated river, and 8–28 g Colorado River cutthroat trout (O. clarki pleuriticus) in a small headwater stream, to determine if observed summer habitat use by these species could be attributed to net energy acquisition, and to develop habitat suitability criteria based on net energy gain. Metabolic models of energy expenditure were derived from literature sources, but measurements of energy availability were site-specific. From the energy models, we assigned a suitability value of 1.0 to the entire range of velocities where positive net energy gains were predicted, and a suitability value of zero to velocities where negative net energy gains were predicted. Predicted net energy gain velocities were compared with observed velocities used by each species. For rainbow trout, the energetic model predicted energetically profitable velocities ranging from 5 to 45 cm s⁻¹. Predicted velocities were similar to velocities used by rainbow trout. This indicated that rainbow trout, as a group, were using energetically profitable stream locations, but some rainbow trout used non-profitable velocities. For Colorado River cutthroat trout, the energetic model predicted energetically profitable velocities ranging from 5 to 45 cm s⁻¹; however, Colorado River cutthroat trout used significantly lower velocities than predicted. The dissimilarity between velocities predicted and used by Colorado River cutthroat trout may be attributed to their inability to utilize energetically profitable velocities available in the stream because of depth restrictions The results suggest that the predictive abilities of energetic models vary between streams because of differences in depth and velocity availability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄土高原北洛河沉积物生态风险解析

以黄土高原的典型工业污染河流北洛河为研究对象,测定其干支流17个采样点沉积物中的8种重金属(Hg、As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Ni、Zn)质量分数,结合描述性统计结果对重金属的空间分布特征进行分析。进一步利用地累积指数法、内梅罗综合污染指数法和潜在生态风险指数法分析重金属的污染程度与生态风险,利用PMF模型和相关性分析进行来源解析。结果表明：北洛河上游沉积物中重金属的平均质量分数高于中下游,As、Cd和Zn的均值分别为背景值的1.26、1.28和1.41倍,Zn、Hg、Cd、Pb、As和Cu的变异系数大于30%,为高度变异水平。地累积指数法与内梅罗综合污染指数法显示,北洛河上游B₁处和下游B₁₃处沉积物中重金属污染处于中高水平;潜在生态风险指数法显示,单一元素污染危害程度依次为Cd>Hg>As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Zn>Cr,整体来看,Cd和Hg的潜在生态危害较大,中游B₁₀和下游B₁₃存在中等生态风险,其余点位均为轻微生态风险。来源解析表明,北洛河沉积物中...     

生物表面活性剂对河道底泥重金属的淋洗效果比较

为了比较生物表面活性剂性质、活性剂浓度和淋洗时间等对河道底泥中重金属淋洗效果的影响。研究中选取了3种不同的生物活性剂即茶皂素、皂角苷和槐糖脂。研究结果表明:活性剂不同,淋洗效果不同;生物活性剂的胶束形成性质会影响淋洗效果;在3种活性剂中,临界胶束浓度低的槐糖脂淋洗效果最好;此外,活性剂浓度为8%时,淋洗效果已达到最佳。淋洗时间对淋洗效果的研究则证明:茶皂素、皂角苷和槐糖脂对重金属淋洗动力学过程可以用Elovich方程进行描述,淋洗过程为非均相扩散过程。研究中还对淋洗前后重金属形态进行了分析,淋洗可以有效去除底泥中弱结合态(离子交换态和碳酸盐结合态)重金属,使得强结合态的重金属所占比例增加,从而降低重金属的生物有效性。     

Reconstruction of pristine morphology,flow, nutrient conditions and submerged vegetation of lowland river spree (Germany) from palaeomeanders

The European Water Framework Directive requires the definition of reference conditions for each type of surface waters as a base to establish a classification system in which deviations from this high quality status must be determined. In order to reconstruct pristine conditions in the lower river Spree we investigated palaeomeanders using palaeohydrological and palaeolimnological methods. The settlement history of this region suggests low anthropogenic impact for all periods before ～700 cal AD. Three palaeomeanders representing the conditions of the late Sub‐boreal/early Sub‐atlantic were investigated. River width and depth at bankfull stage were reconstructed using cross‐sections of the meanders. Based on these data and experiments on the recent river, a parametric model was developed to calculate the bankfull palaeodischarge. Reconstructions show narrower and shallower channels for the undisturbed lower Spree (～20 m mean width and 0.8 m mean depth at bankfull stage) as compared to recent conditions (35 m and 1.6 m, respectively). Flow velocities and discharge at bankfull stage have been smaller in reconstructed sub‐fossil channels (0.5 m s^?1 and 8 m³ s^?1 in the pristine lower Spree as compared to 0.9 m s^?1 and 52 m³ s^?1 in the recent lower Spree) and flow variability was higher. The increase in bankfull discharge was mainly attributed to deforestation and drainage of the catchment as well as channelization, bank protection and river regulation measures. The organic silt at the base of the sediment cores contained well‐preserved fossil diatom assemblages. Diatom‐inferred total phosphorus (DI‐TP) concentrations of 59–73 µg L^?1 (median 62 µg L^?1) indicate eutrophic to hypertrophic conditions and suggest naturally slightly lower nutrient levels than today. These past nutrient conditions, morphology and large numbers of macrofossil remains indicate optimum growth conditions for submerged macrophytes growth. The combination of palaeohydrological and palaeolimnological parameters proved to be a useful approach for the determination of pristine conditions in a lowland river. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The spatial arrangement of Neritina virginea (Gastropoda: Neritidae) during upstream migration in a split‐channel reach

This paper relates differences in flow hydraulics between a main channel (MC) and a side channel (SC) of a river to patterns of upstream migration by Neritina virginea (Neritidae: Gastropoda), a dominant diadromous snail in streams of Puerto Rico (Greater Antilles). Near‐bed water velocity, snail density and shell size were measured on a weekly basis between August and December 2000 along cross‐sections in a main channel (MC) and an adjacent channel (SC) under a bridge crossing of the Río Mameyes of Northeastern Puerto Rico. Near‐bed velocity and water depth were used to compute Reynolds (Re) and Froude (Fr) numbers, and to classify flows within each channel. During base flow conditions (<2 m³ s⁻¹), flow was chaotic and supercritical (Fr > 1) in the MC, and non‐chaotic and subcritical (Fr < 1) in the SC. Higher mean densities (>100 ind m⁻²) of relatively small snails (mean ± s.d., 6.3 ± 2.8 mm) were consistently recorded in the MC. Conversely, the SC had lower mean densities (<20 ind m⁻²) and significantly larger snails (7.6 ± 2.4 mm). Within the MC, migratory groups preferred near‐bed velocities > 0.8 m s⁻¹. Within the SC, they preferred the channel thalweg and depths > 30 cm. The spatial arrangement that was observed between and within the channels may be related to food resources, predation pressure or biomechanics. Characteristics of preferred upstream migration pathways of N. virginea must be accounted when building road crossings in coastal streams with diadromous fauna. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.