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The direct and indirect influences of hydrology and hydraulics on the usability of stream habitats by stream fish are discussed. Most habitat–hydraulic models in use today emphasize the spatial aspects of habitat quality and quantity. It is our contention that the temporal dynamics of habitat quantity are a major influence, determining fish population responses in riverine environments. This may manifest through dramatic shifts in the velocity and temperature distributions over seasons and years as influenced by climatic conditions as well as reservoir operations. Time series simulations of usable habitat available to various life stages of brown and rainbow trout and smallmouth bass populations demonstrate that the usable space and its stability during the early life history is directly translated into year‐class‐strength for these fish populations. Riverine ecosystems are temporally dynamic due to the stochastic nature of precipitation events. Therefore an understanding of the temporal aspects of streamflow and habitat is essential to designing water management schemes intended to protect, enhance or restore riverine fish populations.

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