Barge Passage Effects On Flow In Sheltered Fish Habitats Adjacent To The Main Channel
Benjamin J. Braeutigam, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, 173 Life Science II, Carbondale, IL 62901-6511; (618) 453-2608; FAX (618) 453-6095; bbraeutigam@yahoo.com
James E. Garvey, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, 173 Life Science II, Carbondale, IL 62901-6511
Timothy W. Spier, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, 173 Life Science II, Carbondale, IL 62901-6511
Fishes in large mid-temperate latitude rivers use structures that provide shelter from flow during winter. These low velocity habitats adjacent to the main channel may be vulnerable to large vessel passage, because barges alter flow and likely displace fish. In the Ohio River during spring of 2004, we used an Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) to quantify changes in flow throughout the water column behind wing dams to assess the risk that navigation poses to fish residing in such habitats. After barge passage, drastic alterations in speed, as high as seven to ten times the baseline average speed of flow parallel to the wing dam, were detected. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), and other riverine species residing in velocity shelters adjacent to the main channel might be subjected to an increased risk of mortality due to increased frequency of displacement and increased energetic costs.