Geomorphic identification of physical habitat features in a large, altered river system

Lucie Guertault,Shannon Brewer,Garey Fox,A Paquier,N Rivière

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20184002031

Abstract

Altered flow regimes in streams can significantly affect ecosystems and disturb ecological processes, leading to species loss and extinction. Many river management projects use stream classification and habitat assessment approaches to design practical solutions to reverse or mitigate adverse effects of flow regime alteration on stream systems. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to provide a primary identification of physical habitats in an 80-km long segment of the Canadian River in central Oklahoma. The methodology relied on basic geomorphic variables describing the stream and its floodplain that were derived from aerial imagery and Lidar data using Geographic Information Systems. Geostatistical tests were implemented to delineate habitat units. This approach based on high resolution data and did not require in-site inspection provided a relatively refined habitat delineation, consistent with visual observations. Future efforts will focus on validation via field surveys and coupling with hydro-sedimentary modeling to provide a tool for environmental flow decisions.

Highlights

Human activities significantly affect a number of rivers worldwide [1,2], and large alterations of stream systems are causing dramatic species’ losses and extinctions [3,4]
The objective of this study was to develop a methodology aimed at providing a primary identification of physical habitats in a 80-km long river segment from its physical characteristics derived from high resolution Lidar data, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geostatistics
This study focused on an 80-km long braided meandering segment of the South Canadian River in central Oklahoma, located between Mustang and Purcell USGS gages (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Human activities significantly affect a number of rivers worldwide [1,2], and large alterations of stream systems are causing dramatic species’ losses and extinctions [3,4]. At the reach scale, Smallmouth Bass are more abundant in reaches with lower proportions of pool habitat, revealing the importance of habitats that are not directly used by the species [9]. Larger reaches (1-100 km), referenced in ecology as stream segments, are beneficial scales of examination when concerns emerge related to connectivity of habitat [12] For example, some emblematic minnows of the North American Great Plains, USA rely on complexity of habitats across longer stream segments to create suitable drift conditions for their eggs and larvae during development [13]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion