2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/24/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Hydraulic modeling choices can affect ecological predictions and shape the interpretation and communication of environmental flow recommendations | Virtual Platform
Hydraulic modeling choices can affect ecological predictions and shape the interpretation and communication of environmental flow recommendations
Hydraulic models inform many aspects of river management; yet we know little about how model resolution and complexity influence management recommendations and ecological predictions. Using the Middle Oconee River in Georgia, we evaluated the effects of data resolution (quantity of field data), cross-section selection (random vs. stratified), and model complexity (1-dimensional vs. 2-dimensional) on estimates of habitat availability and diversity and flow recommendations. Hydraulic model outputs were used to calculate fish habitat availability and diversity at different discharge rates and under four management strategies (unaltered, annual minimum, monthly minimum, and percent of flow). All models for total habitat identified percent of flow as preferred because it consistently provided more habitat, though model dimensionality affected the magnitude of available habitat, and cross-section selection affected the rate of habitat decline. For specific habitat types (shallow-fast, deep-fast, shallow-slow), the effect of modeling choices on habitat was variable and the preferred management strategy less consistent. Models with low complexity and resolution had less accurate habitat predictions, especially availability of the rare, shallow-fast habitat. These results highlight the importance of modeling choices in determining ecological predictions and the interpretation and communication of flow recommendations.
- Biological effects
- Habitat
- Biodiversity
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Presenters/Authors
Caitlin Conn
(), University of Georgia, caitlin.conn25@uga.edu;
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Tyler Keys
(), United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tyler.A.Keys@erdc.dren.mil;
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Mary Freeman
(), US Geological Survey, mcfreeman@usgs.gov;
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Kyle McKay
(), US Army Corps of Engineers, kyle.mckay@usace.army.mil;
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