Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA
Regional data needed for effective stream restoration include hydraulic geometry relationships (i.e., regional curves) and reference channel morphology parameters. Increasingly ecological conditions are being considered when designing, implementing, and assessing restoration efforts. We provide morp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-04-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/4/161 |
| _version_ | 1811208752170270720 |
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| author | Brian Helms Jason Zink David Werneke Tom Hess Zan Price Greg Jennings Eve Brantley |
| author_facet | Brian Helms Jason Zink David Werneke Tom Hess Zan Price Greg Jennings Eve Brantley |
| author_sort | Brian Helms |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Regional data needed for effective stream restoration include hydraulic geometry relationships (i.e., regional curves) and reference channel morphology parameters. Increasingly ecological conditions are being considered when designing, implementing, and assessing restoration efforts. We provide morphology relationships and associated ecological endpoint curves for reference streams in the Alabama piedmont. Twenty-one reference stream reaches were identified in the Tallapoosa drainage of Alabama, ranging from 0.2 to 242 km2 drainage area. Geomorphic surveys were conducted in each stream to measure riffle cross-sections and longitudinal profiles and related to drainage area to develop regional curves. Fish, crayfish, and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from each surveyed reach and related to drainage area and geomorphic data to provide associated biological community endpoints. Bankfull channel cross-section area, width, mean depth, and estimated discharge were strongly correlated to watershed drainage area, similar to efforts in other areas of the Piedmont ecoregion. Multiple measures of fish assemblages and crayfish size were strongly predicted by drainage area and geomorphic dimensions. Macroinvertebrates showed no taxonomic and limited functional relationships with drainage area and geomorphic dimension. These tools, which integrate geomorphological and ecological conditions, can result in improved stream evaluations and designs increasing the effectiveness of stream restoration projects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:26:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a126be9d4afe48d09715e0e9bbcd7316 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:26:59Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-a126be9d4afe48d09715e0e9bbcd73162022-12-22T03:48:03ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412016-04-018416110.3390/w8040161w8040161Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USABrian Helms0Jason Zink1David Werneke2Tom Hess3Zan Price4Greg Jennings5Eve Brantley6Auburn University Museum of Natural History, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USAZink Environmental, PLLC, Asheville, NC 28804, USAAuburn University Museum of Natural History, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USADepartment of Biology, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL 36265, USANorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Raleigh, NC 27603, USAJennings Environmental, LLC, Apex, NC 27502, USADepartment of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USARegional data needed for effective stream restoration include hydraulic geometry relationships (i.e., regional curves) and reference channel morphology parameters. Increasingly ecological conditions are being considered when designing, implementing, and assessing restoration efforts. We provide morphology relationships and associated ecological endpoint curves for reference streams in the Alabama piedmont. Twenty-one reference stream reaches were identified in the Tallapoosa drainage of Alabama, ranging from 0.2 to 242 km2 drainage area. Geomorphic surveys were conducted in each stream to measure riffle cross-sections and longitudinal profiles and related to drainage area to develop regional curves. Fish, crayfish, and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from each surveyed reach and related to drainage area and geomorphic data to provide associated biological community endpoints. Bankfull channel cross-section area, width, mean depth, and estimated discharge were strongly correlated to watershed drainage area, similar to efforts in other areas of the Piedmont ecoregion. Multiple measures of fish assemblages and crayfish size were strongly predicted by drainage area and geomorphic dimensions. Macroinvertebrates showed no taxonomic and limited functional relationships with drainage area and geomorphic dimension. These tools, which integrate geomorphological and ecological conditions, can result in improved stream evaluations and designs increasing the effectiveness of stream restoration projects.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/4/161fluvial geomorphologymacroinvertebratesfishcrayfishregional curvehydraulic geometrystream restoration |
| spellingShingle | Brian Helms Jason Zink David Werneke Tom Hess Zan Price Greg Jennings Eve Brantley Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA Water fluvial geomorphology macroinvertebrates fish crayfish regional curve hydraulic geometry stream restoration |
| title | Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA |
| title_full | Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA |
| title_fullStr | Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA |
| title_short | Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA |
| title_sort | development of ecogeomorphological egm stream design and assessment tools for the piedmont of alabama usa |
| topic | fluvial geomorphology macroinvertebrates fish crayfish regional curve hydraulic geometry stream restoration |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/4/161 |
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