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Article
Effects of Grade Control Structures on Fish Passage, Biological Assemblages and Hydraulic Environments in Western Iowa Streams: A Multidisciplinary Review
River Research and Applications
  • J. T. Thomas, Hungry Canyons Alliance
  • M. E. Culler, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
  • D. C. Dermisis, University of Iowa
  • Clay L. Pierce, United States Geological Survey
  • A. N. (Thanos) Papanicolaou, University of Iowa
  • Timothy W. Stewart, Iowa State University
  • C. J. Larson, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2013
DOI
10.1002/rra.1600
Abstract

Land use changes and channelization of streams in the deep loess region of western Iowa have led to stream channel incision, altered flow regimes, increased sediment inputs, decreased habitat diversity and reduced lateral connectivity of streams and floodplains. Grade control structures (GCSs) are built in streams to prevent further erosion, protect infrastructure and reduce sediment loads. However, GCS can have a detrimental impact on fisheries and biological communities. We review three complementary biological and hydraulic studies on the effects of GCS in these streams. GCS with steep (≥1:4 rise : run) downstream slopes severely limited fish passage, but GCS with gentle slopes (≤1:15) allowed greater passage. Fish assemblages were dominated by species tolerant of degradation, and Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores were indicative of fair or poor biotic integrity. More than 50% of fish species had truncated distributions. After modification of GCS to reduce slopes and permit increased passage, IBI scores increased and several species were detected further upstream than before modification. Total macroinvertebrate density, biomass and taxonomic diversity and abundance of ecologically sensitive taxa were greater at GCS than in reaches immediately upstream, downstream or ≥1 km from GCS. A hydraulic study confirmed results from fish passage studies; minimum depths and maximum current velocities at GCS with gentle slopes (≤1:15) were more likely to meet minimum criteria for catfish passage than GCS with steeper slopes. Multidisciplinary approaches such as ours will increase understanding of GCS-associated factors influencing fish passage, biological assemblage structure and other ecological relationships in streams.

Comments

This article is from River Research and Applications 29 (2013): 389, doi:10.1002/rra.1600.

Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
J. T. Thomas, M. E. Culler, D. C. Dermisis, Clay L. Pierce, et al.. "Effects of Grade Control Structures on Fish Passage, Biological Assemblages and Hydraulic Environments in Western Iowa Streams: A Multidisciplinary Review" River Research and Applications Vol. 29 (2013) p. 389 - 398
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/timothy_stewart/14/