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Impacts of groundwater abstraction on the trout fishery of the River Piddle, Dorset; and an approach to their alleviation
Author(s) -
Strevens A. P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1085(19990228)13:3<487::aid-hyp752>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - trout , habitat , fishery , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , brown trout , streamflow , population , drainage basin , geography , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , demography , cartography , sociology
The River Piddle, a small chalk stream in Dorset, supports a valuable fishery for brown trout. It is also heavily utilised for water abstraction, with a licensed maximum daily quantity of 197 Ml/d, of which 43·5% can be taken from the groundwater. The largest licensed groundwater uses (by licensed volume) are public water supplies (PWS), of which there are four within the Piddle catchment. Investigations into the impacts of the largest PWS abstraction, at Briantspuddle, on the brown trout population and fisheries of the River Piddle demonstrated a spatial correlation between a zone of reduced river flow and an area of low juvenile trout abundance, and a reduction in the period during which good quality trout fishing was available. Trout habitat was quantified by applying the Physical Habitat Simulation System (PHABSIM) in conjunction with a groundwater model. The resultant habitat duration curves and habitat time‐series corresponding with historical and naturalised (zero abstraction) flow, indicated large habitat losses for juvenile trout. Using discharge habitat relationships a preferred flow regime for the river at Briantspuddle, designed to satisfy both ecological and recreational needs, was identified. This flow regime, which will be maintained by stream support, includes a ‘survival flow’ for juvenile trout during the critical summer low flow period. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.