Restoring stream habitat connectivity: A proposed method for prioritizing the removal of resident fish passage barriers

O’Hanley, J.R.; Wright, Jed; Diebel, Matthew W.; Fedora, Mark A.; Soucy, Charles L.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.02.055

Cited by 69 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Our modeling framework could be easily adapted to handle potadromous dispersal patterns (Cote et al, 2009;O'Hanley et al, 2013b), where sh regularly move between di erent sections within a river network over the course of a year. One could also take a more in-depth approach by incorporating spatially explicit sh population dynamics (Ziv et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some examples include: Paulsen and Wernstedt (1995), O'Hanley and Tomberlin (2005), O'Hanley (2011), O'Hanley et al (2013b), and Neeson et al (2015. A key feature of these studies and other similar optimization based approaches is the explicit consideration of the spatial structure of barrier networks and the interactive e ects that barrier removal decisions have on longitudinal connectivity.…”

Section: Barrier Mitigation Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Eco-friendly location of small hydropower

Ioannidou

O’Hanley

2018

European Journal of Operational Research

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We address the problem of locating small hydropower dams in an environmentally friendly manner. We propose the use of a multi-objective optimization model to maximize total hydropower production, while limiting negative impacts on river connectivity. Critically, we consider the so called backwater e ects that dams have on power generation at nearby upstream sites via changes in water surface pro les. We further account for the likelihood that migratory sh and other aquatic species can successfully pass hydropower dams and other arti cial/natural barriers and how this is in uenced by backwater e ects.Although naturally represented in nonlinear form, we manage through a series of linearization steps to formulate a mixed integer linear programing model. We illustrate the utility of our proposed framework using a case study from England and Wales. Interestingly, we show that for England and Wales, a region heavily impacted by a large number of existing river barriers, that installation of small hydropower dams tted with even moderately e ective sh passes can, in fact, create a win-win situation that results in increased hydropower and improved river connectivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Barrier Mitigation Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-friendly location of small hydropower

Ioannidou

O’Hanley

2018

European Journal of Operational Research

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“…A full description of the base optimisation routine employed by OptiPass, known as the Resident-Fish Passage Barrier Removal Problem (R-FPBRP), is outlined in O' Hanley et al (2013). As this introduces nonlinearity into the R-FPBRP, the model is reformulated as a mixed integer linear program to find verifiable optimal solutions (O'Hanley et al 2013). A key component of the R-FPBRP is that in contrast to previous formulations (O'Hanley 2011), variability in barrier passability to different fish species or life stages is accounted for, allowing for a more sophisticated measure of river connectivity (O'Hanley et al 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…arcs) of the network, with nodes (i.e. O'Hanley et al 2013). This arrangement is slightly altered in the context of ecological connectivity and prioritisation analyses; DENs are similarly modelled, but barriers, not stream confluences, are nodes that determine the spatial relationship of habitat patches (connections between nodes) within the stream network (Cote et al 2009;Diebel et al 2010;McKay et al 2013;Diebel et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, the work of Diebel et al (2010Diebel et al ( , 2015 and O'Hanley et al (2013) is extended by assessing the management utility of a novel spatial-decision support tool (Malczewski 1999) based on optimisation models for prioritising barrier repair or removal decisions for fish species at risk of extirpation in a highly developed boreal forest watershed. The goal is to incorporate region-and species-specific parameter estimates, including cost values and budgetary constraints, barrier passability values, species life history information and habitat suitability, to determine the feasibility of this tool for immediate implementation in boreal forest watersheds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prioritising culvert removals to restore habitat for at‐risk salmonids in the boreal forest

Maitland

Poesch

Anderson

2016

Fisheries Management Eco

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In the boreal forests of Canada, industrial development has resulted in the installation of thousands of culverted road crossings that act as barriers to fish movement and degrade habitat for native freshwater fishes. In view of culvert removals being expensive, prioritisation methods have been developed, but the efficacy of such methods has not been thoroughly investigated nor have they been tested on low‐gradient boreal forest watersheds containing at‐risk salmonids. The management utility of a novel GIS‐based optimisation‐planning tool to prioritise fish barrier remediation was tested in two highly developed watersheds. Region‐specific parameter estimates of monetary variables (e.g. budget, individual barrier remediation costs), barrier passability and biologically relevant information for species on conservation concern (e.g. habitat suitability, dispersal ability) were incorporated. Results indicate that for Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus Pallas, and bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus Suckley, a large proportion (~61–83%) of currently isolated habitat can be reconnected with low investment (~$200–$500 K). This study demonstrates the management utility of barrier optimisation methods for use in boreal watersheds, particularly as it significantly reduces the technical expertise needed to perform relatively complex optimisation analyses.

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Freshwater conservation in a fragmented world: Dealing with barriers in a systematic planning framework

Hermoso

Filipe

Segurado

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Disruption of longitudinal connectivity poses one of the most important threats to the persistence of freshwater biodiversity worldwide. Longitudinal connectivity plays a key role by facilitating ecological processes, such as migrations or energy transfer along river networks.For this reason, effective conservation of freshwater biodiversity is highly dependent on a capacity to maintain all processes associated with connectivity. Freshwater protected areas are commonly affected by disruptions of connectivity due to human activities and recent approaches to addressing connectivity when identifying priority areas have overlooked the limitations that human perturbations pose to connectivity.2. Here, a novel approach is presented to address this issue by accounting for the spatial distribution of barriers using Marxan, a tool commonly applied in conservation planning. This approach was first tested on a simulated example and then applied to the identification of priority areas for the conservation of freshwater vertebrates in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).3. When using this new approach, the number of disrupted connections within priority areas can be significantly reduced at no additional cost in terms of area needed, which would help maintain connectivity among populations of species with low-medium migratory needs. 4. Given the widespread occurrence of barriers in the study region, the improvement in connectivity within priority areas also resulted in the selection of river reaches closer to the headwaters and the river mouth. Focusing on both extremes of the longitudinal gradient might compromise the effectiveness of conservation efforts for long-distance migratory species, such as the European eel. This inevitably means that additional management measures, such as barrier removal or construction of fish passages, would be necessary to ensure that these species are able to complete their life cycles. 5. The method demonstrated here could be applied to other regions where connectivity is compromised.

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Restoring stream habitat connectivity: A proposed method for prioritizing the removal of resident fish passage barriers

Cited by 69 publications

References 30 publications

Eco-friendly location of small hydropower

Eco-friendly location of small hydropower

Prioritising culvert removals to restore habitat for at‐risk salmonids in the boreal forest

Freshwater conservation in a fragmented world: Dealing with barriers in a systematic planning framework

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