Effects of Water Levels and Hydrology on Fisheries in Hydropower Storage, Hydropower Mainstream and Flood Control Reservoirs

摘要

This report is a case-history evaluation of the effects of fluctuating reservoir water levels on the density and biomass of individual fish species or groups of fish species in hydropower storage, hydropower mainstream, and flood control reservoirs using correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression. Correlation analysis was used to rank seasonal hydrologic variables according to their importance in predicting the abundance of reservoir fish. Stepwise multiple regression was used to generate regression equations describing the relationship between easily obtained hydrologic data and fish for 11 study reservoirs. In many cases, these equations can be used either to predict the effects of altering seasonal water levels in existing Corps of Engineers reservoirs or to predict which of several reservoir operation alternatives for a new reservoir will have the least negative effect on the reservoir fishery.