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Flow and water temperature simulation for habitat restoration in the Shasta River, California
Author(s) -
Sarah E.,
Deas Michael L.,
Lund Jay R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
river research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.679
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1535-1467
pISSN - 1535-1459
DOI - 10.1002/rra.1288
Subject(s) - habitat , environmental science , limiting , water quality , hydrology (agriculture) , restoration ecology , stream restoration , flow conditions , current (fluid) , fish <actinopterygii> , range (aeronautics) , flow (mathematics) , water resource management , fishery , ecology , geology , oceanography , biology , mechanical engineering , geometry , geotechnical engineering , mathematics , materials science , engineering , composite material
Low instream flows and high water temperatures are two factors limiting survival of native salmon in California's Shasta River. This study examines the potential to improve fish habitat conditions by better managing water quantity and quality using flow and water temperature simulation to evaluate potential restoration alternatives. This analysis provides a reasonable estimate of current and potential flows and temperatures for a representative dry year (2001) in the Shasta River, California. Results suggest restoring and protecting cool spring‐fed sources provides the most benefit for native salmon species from a broad range of restoration alternatives. Implementing a combination of restoration alternatives further improves instream habitat. Results also indicate that substituting higher quality water can sometimes benefit native species without increasing environmental water allocations. This study shows the importance of focusing on the limitations of specific river systems, rather than systematically increasing instream flow as a one size fits all restoration approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.