2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/25/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | MODELING SURROGATE METRICS FOR FINE SEDIMENT DEPOSITION IMPACTS IN SUITABLE SALMONID SPAWNING HABITAT | Virtual Platform
MODELING SURROGATE METRICS FOR FINE SEDIMENT DEPOSITION IMPACTS IN SUITABLE SALMONID SPAWNING HABITAT
Accumulation of sediment behind dams poses a critical challenge worldwide as it can prevent effective dam operation, compromise structural integrity, and increase maintenance costs. Sediment releases are a potential mitigation strategy but can harm downstream fisheries and aquatic life. Due to the potential for sediment to cause environmental degradation and impact surface water designated uses, many states have developed surface water quality criteria targeting sediment. However, the criteria often do not reflect the requirements of the biological communities they are meant to protect and may not sync with important biological processes.
We evaluated the relationships between water column and river substrate approaches that measure sediment releases below Willwood Dam, WY, and their relevance to fisheries. Using multiple regression techniques, we developed a preliminary set of models for predicting river substrate metrics (hyporheic dissolved oxygen levels and fine sediment deposition rates) in salmonid spawning habitat from commonly measured watercolumn metrics. Preliminary models will be refined and updated to longitudinally predict downstream effects and quantify spatial variation. This research will better our understanding of metrics for monitoring sediment releases from dams and mitigating downstream impacts on fisheries, biological systems and fluvial processes.
- Transport
- Stream
- Management
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Presenters/Authors
Ashleigh Pilkerton
(), Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, apilkert@uwyo.edu;
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Annika Walters
(), USGS Wyoming Coop Fish and Wildlife Unit, annika.walters@uwyo.edu;
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Frank Rahel
(), University of Wyoming, frahel@uwyo.edu;
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Lindsay Patterson
(), Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, lindsay.patterson@wyo.gov;
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