A Practitioner's Perspective on the Continuing Technical Merits of <scp>PHABSIM</scp>

Reiser, Dudley W.; Hilgert, Phillip J.

doi:10.1002/fsh.10082

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…To fully understand how fish populations are being affected in these watersheds, the eco‐hydraulic modelling results presented herein should be interpreted along with additional work that evaluates the effects of stream temperature and prey availability on fish populations. This is consistent with contemporary instream flow assessments, which should use eco‐hydraulic modelling results as one of a suite of tools the effects of changes in streamflow on fish populations (Reiser & Hilgert, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Although PHABSIM‐style models have been considered to be a rigorous, scientifically defensible means to evaluate changes in fish habitat (Tharme, ), they have been criticized on the basis of issues with their statistical methods, the lack of studies that validate model output, and the challenges associated with evaluating the biological significance of WUA (Mathur, Bason, Purdy, & Silver, ; Lancaster & Downes, ; Railsback, ). However, considerable efforts have been made to improve some of these shortcomings, and eco‐hydraulic models continue to be a common and important component of water management decision processes (Reiser & Hilgert, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of forestry on summertime low flows and physical fish habitat in snowmelt‐dominant headwater catchments of the Pacific Northwest

Gronsdahl¹,

Moore²,

Rosenfeld

et al. 2019

Hydrological Processes

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Periods of summertime low flows are often critical for fish. This study quantified the impacts of forest clear-cutting on summertime low flows and fish habitat and how they evolved through time in two snowmelt-dominant headwater catchments in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. A paired-catchment analysis was applied to July-September water yield, the number of days each year with flow less than 10% of mean annual discharge, and daily streamflow for each calendar day. The postharvest time series were divided into treatment periods of approximately 6-10 years, which were analysed independently to evaluate how the effects of forestry changed through time. An instream flow assessment using a physical habitat simulation-style approach was used to relate streamflow to the availability of physical habitat for resident rainbow trout. About two decades after the onset of logging and as the extent of logging increased to approximately 50% of the catchments, reductions in daily summertime low flows became more significant for the July-September yield (43%) and for the analysis by calendar day (11-68%). Reductions in summertime low flows were most pronounced in the catchment with the longest postharvest time series. On the basis of the temporal patterns of response, we hypothesize that the delayed reductions in late-summer flow represent the combined effects of a persistent advance in snowmelt timing in combination with at least a partial recovery of transpiration and interception loss from the regenerating forests. These results indicate that asymptotic hydrological recovery as time progresses following logging is not suitable for understanding the impacts of forest harvesting on summertime low flows. Additionally, these reductions in streamflow corresponded to persistent decreases in modelled fish habitat availability that typically ranged from 20% to 50% during the summer low-flow period in one of the catchments, suggesting that forest harvest may have substantial delayed effects on rearing salmonids in headwater streams. K E Y W O R D Sfish, forestry, headwater, hydrology, instream flow assessment, logging, low flows, snowmeltdominant

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forestry on summertime low flows and physical fish habitat in snowmelt‐dominant headwater catchments of the Pacific Northwest

Gronsdahl¹,

Moore²,

Rosenfeld

et al. 2019

Hydrological Processes

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show abstract

“…Inundated floodplains can provide important habitat for all life stages of fish when discharge is high (King, Humphries, & Lake, ). Although the core strength of WUA is an index of potential habitat changes with flow (Reiser & Hilgert, ), there is no exact inference mechanism between WUA and quantifiable fisheries metrics. Validating habitat quality results by investigating changes in fish populations, documenting the location of spawning redds, or observing actual foraging behaviour at study sites would help determine the utility of these habitat‐modelling approaches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling changes in trout habitat following stream restoration

Richer

Gates

Kondratieff

et al. 2019

River Research & Apps

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Stream restoration was implemented on the Upper Arkansas River near Leadville, Colorado, to improve brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations. Metals pollution and channel disturbance associated with historic mining, land use, and water development degraded aquatic and riparian habitat. Changes in instream habitat quality following restoration were investigated with a before-after-control-impact study design. Baseline, asbuilt, and effectiveness surveys were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2016, respectively. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling with River2D was used to estimate weighted usable area (WUA) for adult, juvenile, fry, and spawning brown trout across a range of flows. WUA was calculated from habitat suitability curves for velocity, depth, and channel substrate. Foraging positions (FP) and habitat heterogeneity were also evaluated as indices of habitat quality. All results were analysed with analysis of variance. At impact sites, WUA increased by 12.2% from 2013 to 2014 but decreased by 10.2% from 2014 to 2016, whereas FP increased by 24.8% from 2013 to 2014 but decreased by 26.1% from 2014 to 2016. Spawning habitat increased 53.3% from 2014 to 2016 at impact sites. The 15.4% increase in depth variability from 2013 to 2016 indicates that habitat heterogeneity was enhanced at impact sites. No changes in WUA, FP, or habitat heterogeneity were observed at control sites. Although changes in WUA and FP suggest that initial habitat improvements were not sustained, increased spawning habitat and depth heterogeneity suggest otherwise. Our results highlight the value of monitoring strategies that utilize multiple lines of evidence to evaluate restoration effectiveness, inform adaptive management, and improve restoration practices.

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“…Vezza et al, ). Conversely, the TSK fuzzy models may be particularly indicated to detailed‐scale studies where shorter river segments are of special interest as it is typically done in EFA studies involving physical habitat simulation approaches (Reiser & Hilgert, ). Thus, this study exemplified how different analysis techniques could be useful to resource managers for making specific decisions in line with the habitat preferences of fish species and assemblages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microhabitat preferences of fish assemblages in the Udzungwa Mountains (Eastern Africa)

Muñoz‐Mas

Sánchez‐Hernández

Martínez‐Capel

et al. 2019

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Environmental flow assessment (EFA) involving microhabitat preference models is a common approach to set ecologically friendly flow regimes in territories with ongoing or planned projects to develop river basins, such as many rivers of Eastern Africa. However, habitat requirements of many African fish species are poorly studied, which may impair EFAs. This study investigated habitat preferences of fish assemblages, based on species presence–absence data from 300 microhabitats collected in two tributaries of the Kilombero River (Tanzania), aiming to disentangle differences in habitat preferences of African species at two levels: assemblage (i.e. between tributaries) and species (i.e. species‐specific habitat preferences). Overall, flow velocity, which implies coarser substrates and shallower microhabitats, emerged as the most important driver responsible of the changes in stream‐dwelling assemblages at the microhabitat scale. At the assemblage level, we identified two important groups of species according to habitat preferences: (a) cover‐orientated and limnophilic species, including Barbus spp., Mormyridae and Chiloglanis deckenii, and (b) rheophilic species, including Labeo cylindricus, Amphilius uranoscopus and Parakneria spekii. Rheophilic species preferred boulders, fast flow velocity and deeper microhabitats. At the species level, we identified species‐specific habitat preferences. For instance, Barbus spp. preferred low flow velocity shallow depth and fine‐to‐medium substratum, whereas L. cylindricus and P. spekii mainly selected shallow microhabitats with coarse substrata. Knowledge of habitat preferences of these assemblages and species should enhance the implementation of ongoing and future EFA studies of the region.

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A Practitioner's Perspective on the Continuing Technical Merits of PHABSIM

Cited by 22 publications

References 28 publications

Effects of forestry on summertime low flows and physical fish habitat in snowmelt‐dominant headwater catchments of the Pacific Northwest

Effects of forestry on summertime low flows and physical fish habitat in snowmelt‐dominant headwater catchments of the Pacific Northwest

Modelling changes in trout habitat following stream restoration

Microhabitat preferences of fish assemblages in the Udzungwa Mountains (Eastern Africa)

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