Differences in river ecological functions due to rapid channel alteration processes in two California rivers using the functional flows model,part 2—model applications

This study applies the functional flows model (FFM) that integrates hydrogeomorphic processes and ecological functions to assess physical habitat. Functional flows are discharge values that serve ecological uses. The model was adjusted to evaluate gravel‐bed riffle functionality for fall‐run Chinook salmon with respect to river rehabilitation on the Mokelumne River and flood‐induced channel change on the Yuba River. The goal was to test if differences in ecological performance were traceable to differences in hydrogeomorphic conditions. Ecological functions studied were bed occupation (spawning, incubation and emergence) and bed preparation (river bed reworking periods)‐ both reliant on shear stress dynamics. Model outputs included number of days that have functional flows, ranges of functional flows that provide favourable sediment transport stages and the efficiency of a site to produce functional flows. Statistical significance of results was tested using non‐parametric tests. Functional flows analyses before and after geomorphic alteration indicate that river rehabilitation on the lower Mokelume River increased the number of days with functional flows, while the Yuba River May 2005 flood increased the functional ranges of flows for the test sites. Reach‐scale analyses indicated similar ecological performance at reference sites in both rivers. A comparison between both rivers showed that despite a greater geomorphic potential of the Mokelumne River sites to have functional flows, Yuba River sites actually experienced better ecological performance for fall‐run Chinook salmon freshwater life stages due to greater flow availability. The FFM provided an objective tool to assess changes in ecological functionality at hydrogeomorphically dynamic sites. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.