Environmental Instream Flows to Support Physical Habitat for Freshwater Biodiversity in Alabama's Rivers

摘要: Environmental-flow standards are needed to maintain hydrologic regimes that can provide optimal physical habitat support the outstanding freshwater biodiversity of rivers in southeastern US. Here, we used simulation (PHABSIM) model estimate habitat-based environmental flows for 5 river reaches across 4 physiographic provinces Alabama, using data from published suitability curves (HSCs). We found habitat-flow relationships, although varying by target species and local reach characteristics, related broadly size channel geometry. For study rivers, was maximized at low levels flow on smaller Appalachian Plateau Piedmont regions, while suitable continued increasing with increased discharge larger Coastal Plain.