Fatty Acid Profiles Distinguish Channel Catfish from Three Reaches of the Lower Kaskaskia River and its Floodplain Lakes

Despite the increasing use of fatty acids (FAs) as biomarkers in aquatic food web analysis, little information is available regarding differences in FA profiles of fish among habitat types in river–floodplain ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to (i) test whether the FA profiles of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) differed among three reaches of the lower Kaskaskia River and its floodplain lakes, and (ii) to compare FA profiles among muscle, liver, and adipose fin tissues collected from these fish. Profiles differed significantly among sites, especially between upper and lower river sites, and between river channel and oxbow lake sites, suggesting differences in FA availability for channel catfish occupying different habitats and river reaches in the Kaskaskia River system. Specifically, the essential FAs 18:2n‐6 and 18:3n‐3 increased in catfish tissues from upstream to downstream reaches, which could reflect increased floodplain connectivity and decreasing impoundment effects downstream. Ratios of n‐3 to n‐6 FAs were higher in fish from oxbow lakes, perhaps suggesting increased use of autochthonous production in the floodplain relative to the main river channel. Muscle and adipose fin FA profiles exhibited similar location‐related trends, whereas liver FA profiles were markedly different from the other tissue types. These results suggest that adipose fin tissue samples may be a viable, less‐invasive alternative to muscle tissue for analysis of FA profiles in channel catfish. Our study supports the use of tissue FA profiles in identifying habitat utilization by channel catfish, and perhaps habitat‐specific energy contributions to riverine consumers. Furthermore, our work highlights floodplain habitat as a potential source of essential n‐3 FA and the associated importance of maintaining river–floodplain connectivity to support aquatic food webs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrologic connectivity and land cover affect floodplain lake water quality,fish abundance,and fish diversity in floodplain lakes of the Wabash-White River basin

Floodplain lakes are important aquatic resources for supporting ecosystem services, such as organismal habitat, biodiversity, and the retention of nutrients and sediment. Due to geomorphic alteration of river channels and land-cover change, degradation to floodplain lakes in the Ohio River basin is occurring at a rate that will escalate as climate change causes increased flood intensity and the seasonal redistribution of rainfall. A better understanding of the local drivers that affect oxbow lakes is needed for targeted floodplain restoration efforts designed to slow degradation. We examined the effects of land cover, topography, and hydrologic connectivity on water quality and fish diversity and abundance in nine floodplain lakes with potentially high remnant ecological function in the Wabash-White watershed (Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois). Data collection included water-quality parameters; stable water isotopes; total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a; and fish community diversity and abundance. Results indicate that hay/pasture land cover and decreased topographic relief in the local oxbow watersheds, along with reduced river hydrologic connectivity, were related to an increase in total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a. Greater biodiversity and abundance in fish assemblages were evident in oxbow lakes that were more disconnected from the main channel. The results of this study suggest that hydrologic connectivity of oxbow lakes with the contributing drainage area and the main channel influence nutrients and fish communities. Knowing the influencing factors can help ecosystem managers better protect these valuable floodplain lake ecosystems and prioritize restoration efforts amidst increasing stressors due to climate and land-use changes.     

Benefits to 0+ fishes of connecting man‐made waterbodies to the lower River Trent,England

Floodplain waterbodies are reputed to enhance recruitment of riverine fish populations via provision of spawning and nursery habitat, refuge from floods, and increased availability of planktonic food resources compared with main river channels. Notwithstanding, there have been few parallel studies of fishes and their food resources at both main river and floodplain sites. Thus, this study investigated the 0+ fishes, zooplankton and phytoplankton (chlorophyll a) at four main river and four (man‐made) floodplain sites on the lower River Trent, England, between May 1999 and October 2004 inclusive. All sites shared the same key fish species, and there were no consistent differences in the densities, growth or condition of 0+ fishes from main river and floodplain sites. Similarly, all sites shared the same key zooplankton taxa. However, zooplankton densities, notably of large‐bodied cladocerans, and chlorophyll a concentrations, were significantly higher at floodplain sites than at main river sites. Thus, connection of man‐made waterbodies has the potential to enhance recruitment of riverine fish populations via provision of important spawning and nursery habitat, and superior feeding opportunities for 0+ fishes compared with main river channels. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impacts of water resource development on hydrological connectivity of different floodplain habitats in a highly variable system

Floodplains and their associated wetlands are important features of semiarid and arid landscapes, providing habitat and refugia for native species as well as contributing to human needs for freshwater. Globally, floodplain habitats are some of the most modified ecological communities because of water resource development and land‐use changes. However, the hydrological changes that have occurred in highly variable semiarid and arid systems are rarely quantified in a way that helps us understand the consequences for different floodplain habitat types. This study investigated changes in floodplain‐river connectivity that have occurred because of water resource development on four floodplain habitat types in the Lachlan River Catchment, Australia: (a) temporary floodplain lakes, (b) intermittent river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) swamps, (c) intermittent black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) swamps, and (d) terminal wetlands (wetlands along distributary creeks). Changes to floodplain‐river connectivity characteristics were calculated using their commence to fill thresholds and flow scenarios derived from a river hydrology model, enabling comparison of long‐term data sets (120 years) encompassing a range of climate conditions. Connection regime metrics have changed significantly in all floodplain habitats except intermittent black box swamps. Temporary floodplain lakes have experienced the greatest reduction in number of connection events (60% reduction), followed by intermittent river red gum swamps (55% reduction). Intermittent black box swamps and terminal wetlands have experienced the least change in number of connection events (35% reduction). The nature of the change in connection suggests a change in vegetation communities will occur in response to long‐term hydrological change.     

黄河源区典型弯曲河流的几何形态特征

黄河源区支流白河和黑河位于青藏高原东北部若尔盖盆地的东部,河道蜿蜒曲折,是典型弯曲型河流,研究其弯曲河道的一般形态规律,有利于认识青藏高原弯曲河流的发育条件和形态特征。基于遥感图像、DEM和野外调查,利用ArcGIS提取了白河和黑河的河网,计算了沿程的纵比降,并测算了河道宽度、弯曲度、河谷宽度和牛轭湖数量。白河和黑河的统计河段平均弯曲度分别为1.68和2.46,黑河平均弯曲度大于白河的主要原因是黑河的多年平均流量和河道纵比降均小于白河。白河单位河长的牛轭湖数量沿程由多变少,黑河单位河长的牛轭湖数量沿程趋于均匀,且牛轭湖数量多于白河,说明黑河沿程保持更高的自然裁弯频率。     

Fish assemblages and biotic integrity of a highly modified floodplain river,the Upper Mississippi,and a large,relatively unimpacted tributary,the Lower Wisconsin

The Upper Mississippi River is a dynamic floodplain river that has been largely transformed by navigational levees and dams since the 1930s. The pools upstream of each dam are lake‐like and only about the upper third of each reach retains a riverine character. In contrast, the Wisconsin River is not managed for commercial navigation and today its lower 149 km represent one of the least‐degraded large river reaches in central North America. Riverine reaches in both the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers have similar macro‐habitats including numerous islands, large side channels, and connected backwaters and floodplain lakes. In this study, shoreline electrofishing samples were collected during summer 2002 and 2003 to characterize resident fish assemblages. We compared fish species abundance, biomass, and biotic integrity along main and side channel borders between the Upper Mississippi River and the Lower Wisconsin River. We expected that, in the absence of environmental degradation, fish composition and structure would be similar between the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, and between channel types within each river. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and redundancy analysis revealed that fish species in the Mississippi River, unlike in the Wisconsin River, were characteristic of non‐riverine habitats. We consider non‐riverine fish assemblages indicative of environmental impairment. The main and side channel sites in the Mississippi River had more variable fish assemblages than the Wisconsin River. Analyses of fish index of biotic integrity scores showed that environmental condition was excellent for both channel types in the Wisconsin River, whereas in the Mississippi River the side channel was rated good and the main channel only fair. We conclude that differences between the two rivers and between channel types of the Mississippi River are consistent with direct and indirect effects of navigation. This study demonstrates the utility of a fish index of biotic integrity, an inexpensive and rapid bioassessment tool, for detecting change in ecological health on one of the world's largest rivers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fish community response to habitat variables in two restored side channels of the lower Platte River,Nebraska

Anthropogenic alterations to large rivers ranging from impoundments to channelization and levees have caused many rivers to no longer access the floodplain in a meaningful capacity. Floodplain habitats are important to many riverine fishes to complete their life‐history strategies. The fish community and species of fish that inhabit floodplain habitats are often dictated by the type of habitat and the conditions within that habitat (e.g., temperature, water velocity, depth, and discharge). As mitigation and restoration projects are undertaken, it is imperative that managers understand how various habitat components will affect the fish community in floodplain habitats. We collected fish and habitat data from two restored side channels with different structural designs on the lower Platte River, Nebraska, to determine how habitat variables predicted species diversity and individual species presence. We found a decrease in discharge in the main‐stem river resulted in increased diversity in one of the side channels, with the greatest diversity values occurring during summer. No habitat variables performed well for predicting fish species diversity for an adjacent side channel with more uniform depth and velocity and no groundwater inputs. However, several native riverine fish species in this side channel were shown to be associated with high temperature, dissolved oxygen, main‐stem discharge, and discharge variability. These results highlight the importance of considering the physical design of restored floodplain habitats when attempting to enhance fish communities.     

Juvenile Salmonid Utilization of Floodplain Rearing Habitat After Gravel Augmentation in a Regulated River

Gravel augmentation is used in sediment‐starved streams to improve salmonid spawning habitat. As gravel is added to river channels, water surface elevations may rise in adjacent areas, activating floodplain habitat at lower flows, and floodplains inundate more frequently, potentially affecting the quantity and quality of juvenile salmonid rearing habitat. We analysed 5 years of juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tschawytscha and steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss data from snorkel surveys before and after gravel augmentation in the Lower American River, a low‐gradient, highly regulated alluvial river in California's Central Valley. We measured the quality and quantity of rearing habitat (current velocity and areal extent of inundated riparian vegetation) following gravel placement and tested whether these factors affected juvenile abundance. Gravel augmentation increased floodplain extent by 3.7–19.8%, decreased average flow velocity from 1.6 to 0.3 m s^?1 and increased the amount of vegetative cover from 0.3% to 22.6%. Juvenile abundances increased significantly for both species following augmentation. However, the strength of the relationship between abundance and habitat variables was greater for smaller salmonids. These results suggest that, in addition to enhancing salmonid spawning habitat, gravel augmentation can improve rearing habitat where channel incision and/or regulated hydrographs disconnect floodplains from main river channels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

POST‐DAMMING FLOW REGIME DEVELOPMENT IN A LARGE LOWLAND RIVER (VOLGA,RUSSIAN FEDERATION): IMPLICATIONS FOR FLOODPLAIN INUNDATION AND FISHERIES

Periodic flooding plays a key role in the ecology of floodplain rivers. Damming of such rivers can disturb flooding patterns and have a negative impact on commercial fish yield. The Volga River, the largest river in Europe, has a regulated flow regime after completion of a cascade of dams. Here, we study effects of damming on long‐term discharge variability and flood pulse characteristics. In addition, we evaluate the effects of the altered flood pulse on floodplain ecosystem functioning and commercial fish yields. Our results indicate that both flood pulse and fish populations of the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain have varied considerably over the past decades. After damming, annual maximum peak discharges have decreased, minimum discharges increased, but average discharges remained similar to pre‐damming conditions. Moreover, because of bed level incision of over 1.5 m, a higher discharge is needed to reach bankfull level and inundate the floodplains. Despite this significantly altered hydrological regime and subsequent morphological changes, current discharge management still provides significant spring flooding. However, commercial fish catches did decrease after damming, both in the main channel and in the floodplain lakes. All catches were dominated by species with a eurytopic flow preference, although catches from the main channel contained more rheophilic species, and floodplain catches contained more limnophilic and phytophilic species. The strong increase of opportunistic gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) around 1985 was apparent in the main channel and the floodplain lakes. Despite the hydrological changes, the decrease in overall catches, and the upsurge of gibel, we found a strong positive effect of flood magnitude in the previous year on commercial fish yield in the floodplain lakes. This suggests that under the current discharge management there still is an increased fish growth and/or survival during high floods and that functioning of the floodplain is at least partly intact. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Historical changes in hydrology,geomorphology, and floodplain vegetation of the Willamette River,Oregon

Historical trends in hydrology, geomorphology, and floodplain vegetation provide fundamental contexts for designing future management of large rivers, an area of fluvial research extensively informed by studies of historical channel dynamics. Changes in hydrology, channel structure, floodplain forests, and large wood were documented for the 273‐km main stem of the Willamette River from 1850 to present. Reduced sediment supply and frequency and magnitude of floods have decreased channel mobility and incised channels, leading to fewer gravel bars, islands, and side channels. Human alteration of channel morphology, vegetation, and bank hardening has exacerbated channel simplification caused by reductions in floods, sediment supply, and inputs of wood. A substantial number of floodplain channels reoccupied remnants of previous active channels inundated during recent floods, demonstrating functional but often forgotten role of historical geomorphic structure in modern floodplains and flood processes. In most reaches, area of floodplain forests in 1990 was only 10% to 25% of the area of forests in 1850. Abundance of wood in the wetted channel was generally greater in reaches with higher abundances of floodplain forests. Future trajectories will be influenced by legacies of the historical river but increasingly will reflect evolution of a new river shaped by human development, changing climate, and emerging hydrogeomorphic and vegetation processes. Understanding historical characteristics and anticipating future rates and patterns of ecosystem change provide fundamental contexts for restoring biophysical processes and structure in a large floodplain river.     

FISH ASSEMBLAGES RESPOND TO HABITAT AND HYDROLOGY IN THE WABASH RIVER,INDIANA

Detailed relationships between fish assemblages and habitat and hydrology variation are largely unknown for large rivers. We evaluated hydrology, habitat variation and fish assemblages at 28 sites on the Wabash River, Indiana, USA, during 2005–2008. We calculated hydrologic variation with the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration software and tested for temporal hydrologic effects on habitat variation of substrate particle size, water depth and water velocity by reducing data into principal component axes that were tested for differences among years with ANOVAs. We then tested for effects of habitat and hydrology variation on fish assemblages with canonical correspondence analysis. These analyses showed significant relationships between hydrologic variation and local habitats, and hydrology and habitat variables had significant relationships with fish assemblage structure. Our Mantel tests resulted in significant concordance among hydrology, local habitat variation and fish assemblage structure, suggesting associations of these variables. These results supported strong connections for hydraulic control over habitat variation and subsequent effects on fish assemblages. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in fish communities of the Phongolo floodplain,Zululand (South Africa) before,during and after a severe drought

The Pongolapoort Dam in Zululand, South Africa has regulated the flow of the Phongolo River to its floodplain downstream since 1970. Ecological surveys of the floodplain fish communities were conducted before (1974–6), during (September 1983) and after (August 1984) a severe drought to assess the response of the fish stocks. During the three study periods the floodplain lake communities varied. Fish populations were markedly reduced during the drought. The redistribution offish on the floodplain after the drought was rapid. Colonization of previously dry lakes was mainly by juvenile fish and the mean size of the fish was lower in these lakes than in the refuge lakes. A few species successfully spawned during the drought, although the natural mortality of the young of the year was probably greater due to increased competition and predation in restricted habitats. Large scale spawning in most species occurred immediately after the drought was broken by a large flood.     

Assessing the Relationship Between River Mobility and Habitat

Human interventions that limit channel mobility such as bank stabilization are frequent in riparian zones in urban or agricultural environments. This is potentially problematic because channel mobility is an important geomorphological and ecological agent that structures natural instream and riparian ecosystems. This study aims to (1) quantify the relationship between mobility and three types of habitat‐related features, namely bars, oxbow lakes and log jams, for a 54‐km‐long reach of the Yamaska Sud‐Est River (Quebec, Canada), which runs from the forested Appalachian Mountains to the agricultural St‐Lawrence lowlands, and (2) evaluate the impact of human interventions and geomorphological characteristics on these three features. Channel mobility was measured from historical aerial photos for the period 1950–2009. A combination of high‐resolution aerial photos, LiDAR digital elevation model, and field observations was used to measure and map sediment bars, oxbow lakes and log jams, as well as several geomorphological characteristics (channel width, slope, sinuosity and floodplain width). A strong link between the mobility and the presence of habitat features is revealed, but local geomorphological contexts result in different mobility patterns responsible for specific habitats. Floodplain to channel width ratio appears as the best geomorphological factor predicting habitat diversity. Human intervention, mostly through bank stabilization, also appears to be a key factor limiting mobility and its related habitats. These results highlight the importance of defining a protected mobility corridor along rivers where geomorphic processes such as bank erosion can freely occur, as it is an essential process that should be integrated in land use planning and river management. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MACROINVERTEBRATES IN ABANDONED CHANNELS: ASSEMBLAGE CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR INDICATIONS FOR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT

Alluvial floodplains contain four types of abandoned channels: old river courses, oxbow lakes, oxtail lakes and riparian wetlands. These result from avulsions, meander cutoffs, ice‐jam floods and stem‐channel shifts, respectively. With the exception of old river courses, which belong to terrestrial ecosystems, abandoned‐channel types are important components of freshwater ecosystems. During 2006–2009, we conducted systematic investigations of macroinvertebrates in three types of freshwater abandoned channels and identified 93 taxa of macroinvertebrates belonging to 51 families and 88 genera. In the assemblage composition, most taxa were similar to those found in river‐isolated lakes and river mainstreams. Moreover, abandoned channels supported many unique benthic taxa, which are important complementary resources for the entire river system. In the abandoned channels that were covered with a layer of silt, standing crops were higher than that found in the river mainstream where the bed sediment consisted mainly of sand. Conversely, in abandoned channels that were covered with fine sand, standing crops were lower than in the gravel streambed. Some abandoned channels, such as the riparian wetlands of the East River that are freely connected with the mainstream, were characterized by the highest biodiversity and the greatest biomass. In regions less affected by human activities, abandoned channels need to be connected with mainstreams by flooding at least once every 3 years to maintain at least half of the maximum amount of macroinvertebrate resources. In regions more affected by human activities, abandoned channels need to be connected with mainstreams at least once every year. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benthic invertebrate assemblages and species diversity patterns of the Upper Paraguay River

This paper presents the first study of the benthic invertebrate assemblages of the upper section of the Paraguay River, a major tributary to the Pantanal wetland in Brazil. Thirty‐eight sites were sampled along a 200 km section below the city of Cáceres in November 2000. Sixty‐nine species and morphospecies were identified, which were dominated by Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Mean density of benthic invertebrates varied between 72 and 10 354 m^?2 in the meandering sector of the river, 3611–49 629 m^?2 in the straight–transitional sectors, 682–5962 m^?2 in the floodplain lakes, and 1704–2208 m^?2 in floodplain channels. Highest densities were attained in sand‐gravel sediments dominated by the psammophilous oligochaete Narapa bonettoi. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 0.75 to 2.08 and was highest in floodplain lakes. Statistical analysis (UPGMA and CCA) revealed that benthic assemblages in the floodplain habitats were clearly distinct from the riverine habitats. In the river channel, the habitats were distinguished by grain size while the floodplain habitats were mostly determined by current and silt‐clay concentration (floodplain channels) or by organic matter concentration (floodplain lakes). Conservation efforts in the Upper Paraguay area should aim to maintain the flood pulse as a permanent source of spatial and temporal habitat heterogeneity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An investigation of marginal habitat and macrophyte community enhancement on the River Torne,UK

During floodbank raising work as part of a major capital flood defence scheme on the River Torne between 1985 and 1990, selected reaches of the main trapezoidal channel were enhanced. By winning spoil from the channel margins and from borrow pits in the floodplain, a more varied marginal zone was created which maximised the potential habitat for wetland plant communities and their associated fauna. Enhancement comprised bank re‐profiling to create narrow wetland shelves (berms), shallow bays, channel margins of varying shape and depth and linear still ponds from the borrow pits. The 1990 planting programme comprised 11 macrophyte species and a total of 7740 individual plants. This paper reports on an initial study to evaluate the marginal habitat enhancements on the River Torne 5 years after completion of the project. Lack of pre‐scheme data necessitated a space‐time substitution; enhanced river margins were compared with neighbouring reaches that had undergone conventional floodbank repair and remained as trapezoidal channel sections planted with a standard, low maintenance seed mix. Marginal vegetation was surveyed and supported by measurements of the physical habitat at 10 enhanced and 10 conventionally‐engineered reaches. The macrophyte surveys and the results from the cluster analysis and polar ordination indicate that enhanced and conventionally‐engineered reaches are floristically distinct and that the enhanced reaches have a more varied macrophyte community. The results from the Mann–Whitney U‐tests show that enhanced reaches have significantly higher values of wetland species diversity and equitability, percentage of wetland species, bank width and soil moisture and significantly lower bank angles. However, the correlation and linear regression analyses did not show any strong associations between the physical habitat and plant parameters. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Progressive changes in phytoplankton community structure in urbanized lowland river floodplains—a multivariate approach

Phytoplankton communities along the river Yamuna in Delhi stretch and its associated floodplain lakes showed considerable spatio‐temporal variations. Most of the species identified were cosmopolitan and typical of highly polluted rivers in tropical ecosystems. All the groups of phytoplankton with predominance of Cyanophyceae and some species of Chlorophyceae were distributed within the river stretch though with varying diversity and density. Relatively cleaner sites supported larger phytoplankton assemblages compared to those subjected to sewage outfalls and industrial effluents. Species elimination was observed mainly in the mid‐stretch and downstream of Okhla subjected to high loads of pollution. Co‐inertia analysis indicated significant co‐structures between water quality and species richness and density indicating water quality as the governing factor for phytoplankton distributions in the river stretch. Floodplain plays an important role in regenerating water quality thereby enhancing species richness and density. Floods play an important role in seasonal dynamics through dilution effects and promoting connectivity between river channel and floodplain lakes thereby facilitating species exchanges. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of otolith chemical signatures to estimate carp recruitment sources in the mid‐Murray River,Australia

Recent research has suggested that the Barmah‐Millewa forest (BMF) floodplain provides a particularly important spawning ground for carp in the Murray River and that there is a large export of juvenile carp from the BMF into other parts of the Murray River system. This study examined whether chemical analysis of otoliths (fish ear stones) represents a feasible technique for estimating the relative importance of particular sources of carp recruitment in the Murray River. Otolith chemical signatures were analysed for fish collected from three lakes on the BMF floodplain and from three major tributaries of the mid‐Murray River. A single site downstream of these potential sources of carp recruitment (Torrumbarry Weir) was then examined to estimate the relative contribution of the BMF and the tributaries to carp recruitment at this site. The results of the study suggest that at least some of the lakes on the BMF floodplain are important sources of carp in the mid‐Murray River. Using a maximum likelihood analysis of otolith chemical signatures, it was estimated that Barmah Lake and Moira Lake were the most likely recruitment sources for 98% of the fish collected from Torrumbarry Weir. The study demonstrates the potential application of otolith chemical analyses for determining the relative importance of potential recruitment sources of fish in rivers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING FOR INTEGRATED FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT: UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER SYSTEM

Natural hydrogeomorphic characteristics and hydrologic alterations are important ecological drivers, and hydrology is also a common ecological, flood control and navigation system indicator. Hydrologic characteristics change dramatically from one end of the Upper Mississippi River System to the other, and hydraulic characteristics also differ spatially across the river channels and floodplain in response to dams, levees and diversions. Low flow surface water spatial change in response to navigation and flood control has been well known for many years, but little information was available on the spatial distribution of frequent floods. The flow frequency data presented here were developed to better estimate contemporary floods after historic flooding in 1993. Flood stage estimates are enhanced in GIS to help quantify and map potential floodplain inundation for more than 1000 river miles on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Potential flood inundation is mapped for the 50% to 0.2% annual exceedance probability flood stage (i.e. 2‐ to 500‐year expected recurrence interval flood) and also for alternative floodplain management scenarios within the existing flood protection infrastructure. Our analysis documents: (i) impoundment effects, (ii) a hydrologic gradient within the navigation pools that creates repeating patterns of riverine, backwater and impounded aquatic habitat conditions, (iii) potential floodplain inundation patterns for over 2 million acres and (iv) several integrated floodplain management scenarios. Extreme flood events are more common in recent decades, and they are expected to continue to occur at greater frequency in response to climate change. Floodplain managers can use the results presented here to help optimize land management and flood damage reduction on the Upper Mississippi River System. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Flooding and Surface Connectivity of Taxodium‐Nyssa Stands in a Southern Floodplain Forest Ecosystem

An understanding of the factors controlling the permanent and episodic links between the main stem of a river and the ecosystems of its alluvial floodplain is necessary for evaluating the influence of modern river processes on floodplain ecology and habitat diversity and for the successful implementation of flow regimes that meet human needs for water in a manner that sustains the ecological integrity of affected systems. In this study, we examined relationships between river hydrology and lateral hydrological connectivity, which is crucial to directing fluxes of water, material, and organisms into and across a floodplain. We did so by translating measures of river discharge for the Congaree River into high resolution maps of flood conditions for the floodplain at Congaree National Park using a 2D flood inundation model. Utilizing a graph network approach, we then analyzed the connectivity of a key wetland ecosystem, Taxodium‐Nyssa forested swamps, to the main stem river and to each other under different flows. Our results underscore that floodplain connectivity is initiated at sub‐bankfull discharges and does not depend on levee overtopping, while also clarifying that various sources of connectivity are triggered at different flow levels in specific reaches. Further, our findings demonstrate the sensitive and non‐linear response of floodplain connectivity to river flows and provide useful information to facilitate the management of flood processes in the Congaree River watershed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.