A multi-scale approach for restoration site selection is presented and applied to an upland catchment, the River Ure, North Yorkshire. Traditional survey methods, advances in remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and risk-based fine sediment modelling using the SCIMAP module are combined to gather data at the catchment-scale through to the in-stream habitat-scale. The data gathered have been assessed against spatially distributed brown trout fry populations using Pearson’s correlation and multiple stepwise regressions. Fine sediment was shown to have a positive correlation with fry populations when upland drainage channels (grips) were added to the SCIMAP model. This suggests risk from peatland drainage is realised further down the catchment where eroded sediments are deposited. Farm-scale SCIMAP modelling was tested against farmers’ knowledge with variable results. It appears there is a cultural response to risk developed over generations. Management of meadows and pasture land through sub-surface drainage and stock rotation resulted in the risk being negated or re-routed across the holding. At other locations apparently low-risk zones become risky through less sensitive farming methods. This multi-scale approach reveals that the largest impacts on brown trout recruitment operate at the habitat-adjacent scale in tributaries with small upstream areas. The results show a hierarchy of impact, and risk-filters, arising from different intensity land management. This offers potential for targeted restoration site selection. In low-order streams it seems that restoration measures which exclude livestock, and provide bankside shading, can be effective. At such sites the catchment-scale shows a reduced signal on in-stream biota. Thus, brown trout stocks could be significantly enhanced by targeting restoration at riffle-habitat zones and adjacent land in order to disconnect the stream from farm-derived impacts and through adding structure to the stream channel.

Master of Science / Department of Biology / Craig Paukert / We investigated spatial variation in fish assemblage and food web structure in the Kansas River, USA in relation to habitat changes. Fishes were collected at ten sites throughout the Kansas River for assessing assemblage structure in summer 2007 using fish community metrics and at 3 sites in 2006 for food web structure using stable isotope analysis. Satellite imagery indicated riparian habitat on the Kansas River was dominated by agriculture in the upper reaches (>35%) and tended to increase in urban land use in the lower reaches (>58%). Instream habitat complexity also decreased with increased urban area (<25%) becoming more channelized. Jaccard's similarity and percent similarity indices suggested that large-bodied fishes show changes in species presence and composition longitudinally within the river. Also, reaches directly above Bowersock Dam in Lawrence, Kansas and below the Johnson County Weir, near Kansas City, Kansas had low percent similarity compared to other reaches, suggesting the dam and the weir affect community composition. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that species that prefer high velocity flows and sandy substrate (blue sucker and shovelnose sturgeon) are associated with the upper river reaches. Also, there was a higher abundance of omnivorous and planktivorous fish species in the lower more channelized river. The lower reaches contain more tolerant, macrohabitat generalist species and the upper river contained more intolerant, fluvial specialist species. Fish, macroinvertebrates, and detritus were collected at three river reaches classified as the heterogeneous instream habitat (>40% grass islands and sand bars) intermediate (22% grass islands and sand bars), and homogeneous (6% grass islands and sand bars) instream habitat reaches in June 2006. Riparian land use (proportion as agricultural and urban) was related to instream habitat with homogeneous areas having more urban riparian area compared to the heterogeneous and intermediate reaches. The heterogeneous habitat reach had higher variability in [Delta][superscript]13C for fish classified as piscivores/invertivores (P=0.029) and macroinvertebrates (P=0.004) suggesting the complex habitat in the heterogeneous habitat reach provided more variable food sources. The [Delta}15N values also indicated that ten of the twelve fish species tended to consume prey at higher trophic levels in the heterogeneous habitat reach suggesting a more complex food web. Land use practices are leading to homogenization of instream habitat and this homogenization of habitats may be related to food web diversity and trophic position of fishes. Conserving intolerant, native species in the Kansas River may require maintaining suitable habitat for these species and restoration of impacted areas of the river.

Two locations on Scott Creek, located 12 miles north of Santa Cruz California, are being considered for the installation of a streamgage to measure discharge. Each location offers unique considerations and challenges in gage construction and discharge measurement capabilities. A detailed flood frequency analysis was completed using a direct watershed comparison, direct equations developed by Waananen and Crippen, a Log Pearson Type III Frequency Distribution, a regional analysis, and two-station comparisons. Final results indicate a 100-year recurrence interval of 6,310 ft3/s at the Upper Scott Creek location and 6,520 ft3/s at the lower location. A detailed indirect measurement revealed that the Lower Scott Creek gage location can only maintain a discharge of 2,500 ft3/s, or a 10-year frequency event, before bank overflow. Therefore, a cableway spanning the width of the design flow cannot be constructed and stage readings at extreme peak events will not accurately represent the true hydrograph. A bridge at the Upper Scott Creek gage location will provide a means for measuring high flow events; however, the channel is in a state of disequilibrium due to debris jams within the 140 foot reach above the bridge. This site is also problematic due to the occurrence of channel avulsion which is scouring and incising a new channel which threatens to undermine the left bank wingwall of the bridge. Remediation measures have been proposed, including the installation of a cross-vane and wing-deflectors, to mitigate negative effects of erosion and reestablish a natural channel condition. The upstream location has been selected as the preferred alternative given the remediation measures are successful.

The Staunton River is a high gradient, second order stream approximately 6 km in length located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, VA. In June 1995, a catastrophic flood and debris flow altered the instream habitat and <i>Salvelinus fontinalis</i> population of the Staunton River. The debris flow scoured the streambed, deposited new substrate materials, removed trees from the riparian zone, and eliminated fish from a 1.9km section of the stream. By June 1998, both young-of-year (YOY) and age 1+ <i>S. fontinalis</i> had recolonized the debris flow affected area. The event provided a rare opportunity to examine recovery of the <i>S. fontinalis</i> population and instream habitat in addition to addressing potential effects of the debris flow on movement, activity, and growth of fish in the debris flow affected and unaffected areas of the stream. Post-recolonization movement and activity were monitored using two-way fish traps (weirs), mark-recapture techniques, and radio telemetry. The weirs failed to produce any movement data. Most fish (91%) in the mark-recapture study had range sizes less than 100m, however biases common to mark-recapture study designs (low recapture rate, flawed logic, etc.) hampered interpretation of results. For example, subsequent recapture of individually marked fish indicated that as many as 54% of marked fish confirmed to have been alive at the time of a recapture session were not recaptured. Radio telemetry provided information on <i>S. fontinalis</i> movement and activity at seasonal and diel scales during summer and fall. Differences in movement and activity between the debris flow affected and unaffected areas were minimal when compared to seasonal variations. During summer, range sizes were near 0m and crepuscular activity patterns were observed. During the fall range size increased and diel activity was concentrated in the mid-afternoon with a much higher peak than during summer. Basin-wide visual estimation technique (BVET) fish population surveys performed each spring and fall from 1993 = 1999 provided pre- and post-event fish population abundance and density estimates. Post-event fish growth in the debris flow affected and unaffected areas was monitored using mark-recapture techniques. Abundance and density of both YOY and age 1+ <i>S. fontinalis</i> exceeded pre-event levels within 2-3 years. Growth of YOY and age 1+ fish was significantly greater in the debris flow affected area until spring 1999. Population density appeared to have a strong negative influence on growth. The observed changes in fish growth and differences in fish size associated with population density would be of minimal importance to the typical angler but may suggest a mechanism by which <i>S. fontinalis</i> populations can quickly recover from catastrophic events. BVET habitat surveys provided information on total stream area, number of pools and riffles, pool and riffle surface area and depth, substrate composition, and large woody debris (LWD) before (1993), immediately following (1995), and four years post-event (1999). Immediately following the debris flow, the stream channel was highly disordered which resulted in an increase in the total number of habitat units and a decrease in average habitat unit surface area, total stream area, and average depth when compared with pre-event conditions. In addition, substrate composition had shifted from small to large diameter particles and LWD loading had increased in both debris flow affected and unaffected areas. Four years after the event, the total number of habitat units, average habitat unit surface area, total stream area, and average depth had all returned to near pre-debris flow levels and substrate composition had begun to shift towards smaller particle sizes. Changes in LWD loading from 1995-1999 reflected changes in the riparian zone following the debris flow. In the unaffected area, where riparian trees remained intact, LWD loading increased, whereas in the debris flow affected area, where riparian trees were eliminated, LWD loading decreased. For the most part the effects of the debris flow, although immediately dramatic, were in the long term minimal. The debris flow affected area was recolonized rapidly and abundance and density quickly rebounded past pre-event levels. Differences in fish growth between the affected and unaffected area were short lived. Any effect the debris flow affected area may have had on movement or activity was minimal when compared with seasonal variations. Most habitat characteristics reverted to near pre-event levels just four years after the flood and debris flow. Although a number of factors will influence recovery time from such events, these results indicate that immediate management action, such as stocking or habitat modifications, are not necessary in all cases. / Master of Science

Dans le cadre de la lutte en mer, la détection acoustique des structures immergées s’effectue généralement sur des signaux stationnaires. Une nouvelle génération de sonars permet de détecter sur des signaux transitoires. Ceci implique de compléter le processus de conception des projets industriels qui ne tient compte d’exigences qu'en matière de bruits rayonnés en régime stationnaire. Il est donc nécessaire de comprendre les mécanismes de transfert des sources de bruit transitoires sur les structures immergées. Cette thèse s’inscrit dans ce cadre et consiste à étudier les mécanismes de transfert vibratoire et de rayonnement acoustique qui peuvent intervenir sur ces structures lorsque l’excitation est transitoire. L’analyse porte sur différents éléments de la chaine de transfert : le rayonnement dans l’eau du bordé, la diffraction des ondes par les raidisseurs, et le comportement résonnant des structures internes supportant les matériels. Le premier chapitre présente une analyse bibliographique autour de l’étude des phénomènes vibroacoustiques transitoires des structures immergées, de l’influence d’un fluide lourd sur le comportement vibroacoustique des plaques, et des méthodes de calcul vibroacoustiques en régime transitoire. Dans le second chapitre nous étudions la réponse transitoire d’une plaque infinie immergée soumise à une force impulsionnelle ponctuelle. La méthode de calcul s’appuie sur les calculs spectraux fréquences-nombre d’onde. Les réponses temporelles sont obtenues par transformées de Fourier inverses. L’analyse des spectres et des réponses temporelles de l’accélération vibratoire de la plaque et de la pression rayonnée, met en évidence l’influence de la présence du fluide. La prise en compte de l’inertie rotationnelle et du cisaillement à travers le modèle de plaque de Mindlin-Timoshenko est également étudiée. Ces résultats sont confrontés à une expérimentation présentée dans le troisième chapitre. La structure étudiée est une plaque rectangulaire posée horizontalement à la surface d’une cuve remplie d’eau. Deux types de sources transitoires sont utilisés : marteau de choc, lâché d’une bille. La comparaison des résultats numériques et expérimentaux montre que l’on retrouve certains phénomènes évoqués précédemment. L’effet des raidisseurs sur le rayonnement acoustique fait l’objet du quatrième chapitre. Une plaque raidie périodiquement dans une direction est considéré. L’influence des ondes de Bloch-Floquet sur la réponse temporelle est étudiée. Les résultats sont comparés à des mesures effectuées sur une barge d’essais. Dans le cinquième chapitre, l’effet des structures internes est étudié à partir d’un modèle de plaque couplé à un système résonnant constitué d’un assemblage poutre-plaque. La méthode des inertances est utilisée pour obtenir les forces de couplage entre les différents éléments. Les signaux temporels sont étudiés en fonction de l’importance de la rupture d’inertance entre la plaque et l’assemblage. / In the sea, the acoustic detection of other battle engines is done by detecting mostly stationary signals. However, new types of detection systems are being developed, and are able to detect and to analyze transient signals. Therefore, the industrial conception process needs to be improved, so that the underwater vehicles transient noises can be taken in account. In order to do so, the mechanism of vibroacoustic transfer of transient sources of submerged structures has to be understood. The object of this thesis is then the study of the mechanism of vibration transfer and acoustic radiation of those structures when they are excited by transient sources. The shell radiation in the water, the wave diffraction by circumferential stiffeners and the resonant behavior of internal substructures are analyzed. The first chapter presents the bibliographical study of three themes: the study of transient phenomenon of submerged structures, the influence of heavy fluid coupling on vibroacoustic behavior of plates, and the different calculation methods in transient vibroacoustics. In the second chapter, we study the transient response of a submerged infinite plate excited by an impulsively point force. First, the calculations are done in the wavenumber-frequency domain. Then the spatio-temporal responses are obtained using inverse Fourier transforms. The discretization of wavenumber and frequency domains and the damping model are studied. The analysis of frequency and time responses of the plate vibration and the radiated pressure enable us to observe the influence of heavy fluid coupling. Besides the Mindlin-Timoshenko plate model is also used and the effect of rotation inertia and shear stress are studied. In the third chapter, these numerical results are confronted to experimental data, obtained experimentally. The studied structure is a rectangular plate lying on the surface of a water tank. Two different excitations are used: an impact hammer and the free fall of a steel ball. The study of the correlation between numerical and experimental results showed that some phenomena are observed in both cases. The influence of stiffeners on the acoustic radiation is the theme of the fourth chapter. An infinite plate which is periodically stiffened through one direction is considered. The effect of Bloch-Floquet waves on time response is studied. Numerical results are compared to measurements data obtained on an industrial submerged structure. In the fifth chapter, the effect of internal structures is analyzed by modelling an infinite plate coupled to a resonant system made of a beam and a rectangular finite plate. The inertance coupling method is used to obtain the coupling forces between the different substructures. Influence of inertance difference between the substructures is illustrated by the time signals.

Limited freshwater supply is the most important challenge in water resources management, particularly in arid and semi-arid basins. However, other variations in a basin, including climate change, population growth, and economic development intensify this threat to water security. The Oldman River Basin (OMRB), located in southern Alberta, Canada, is a semi-arid basin and encompasses several water challenges, including uncertain water supply as well as increasing, uncertain water demands (consumptive irrigation, municipal, and industrial demands, and non-consumptive hydropower generation, and environmental demands). Reservoirs, of which the Oldman River Reservoir is the largest in the basin, are responsible for meeting most of demands, and, protecting the basin’s economy. The OMRB has also faced extreme natural events, floods and droughts, in the past, which reservoir management plays a critical role to adapt to. The complexity of the climate, hydrology, and water resource system and water governance escalates the challenges in the basin. These factors are highly interconnected and establish dynamic, non-linear behavior, which requires an integrated, feedback-based tool to investigate. Integrated water resources (IWRM) modelling using system dynamics (SD) is such an approach to tackle the different water challenges and understand their non-linear, dynamic pattern. In this research study the Sustainability-oriented Water Allocation, Management, and Planning (SWAMPOM) model for the Oldman River Basin is developed. SWAMPOM comprises a water allocation model, dynamic irrigation demand, instream flow needs (IFN), and economic evaluation sub-models. The water allocation model allocates water to all the above-mentioned demands at a weekly time step from 1928 to 2001, and under different water availability scenarios. Meeting irrigation demands relies on the crop water requirement (CWR), which is calculated under different climatic conditions by the dynamic irrigation demand sub-model. This sub-model estimates the weekly irrigation demand for main crops planted in the basin. SWAMPOM also computes environmental demands or instream flow need (IFN) for the Oldman River, and allocates water to rivers to meet IFN under different policy scenarios and uncertain water supply. Finally, the major water-related economic benefit in the basin, earned by agriculture and hydropower generation, is computed by the economic evaluation sub-model. The results show that SWAMPOM could reasonably satisfy the demands at a weekly time step and provide an adequate estimation of the crop water requirement under different hydrometeorological conditions. Based on the SWAMPOM’s results, the average annual irrigation demand is 306 mm over the historical time period from 1928 to 2001 in the main irrigation districts. The average weekly instream flow need of the Oldman River is calculated to be approximately 20.5 m3/s, which can be met in more than 97% of weeks in the historical time period. Average annual water-related economic benefit was computed to be 192.5 M$ in the OMRB. It decreased to 82.8 M$ in very dry years, and increased up to 328.6 M$ in very wet years. This research also developed different sets of Oldman Reservoir’s operation zones, resulting in trade-offs between the optimal economic benefit, water allocated to the ecosystem, minimum floodwater and minimum flood frequency. This helps decision makers to decide how much water should be stored in the reservoir to meet a specific objective while not sacrificing others. A multi-objective performance assessment, Pareto curve approach, is applied to identify the optimal trade-offs between the four objective functions (OFs), and 18 different optimal, or close to optimal sets of operating zones are provided. The decision regarding the operating zones depends on decision makers’ preference for higher economic benefit, water allocated to IFN, or flood security. However, the set of operating zones with minimum floodwater causes 11 less flood events; the operating zones with maximum economic benefits result in 4.1% more financial gain; and the zones with maximum water allocated to IFN lead to 10.1% more ecosystem protection in the whole 74 years, compared to current zones.

In this study Bradford’s (2008) approach for setting ecological flow and water level targets is tested and refined through application within the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s (LSRCA) subwatershed of Lover’s Creek. A method for defining subwatershed objectives and identifying habitat specialists through expert input is proposed and tested. The natural regime of each streamflow and wetland site is characterized along with the hydrological alteration at each site. Potential ecological responses to the hydrologic alterations are then hypothesized for the different types of changes calculated at each site. Methods for setting overall ecosystem health and specific ecological objective flow targets are proposed and tested. These targets are integrated into a flow regime for each site and a process for using this information for decision making is suggested. Flow magnitude quantification is attempted using hydraulic modelling and sediment transport equations, however the data used were found to be inadequate for this application. The accuracy of the targets developed using the method presented in this paper is mainly limited by the accuracy of the hydrological model and quantified flow magnitudes. Recommendations for improving these components of the assessment are made. The unique approach and recommendations presented in this paper provide explicit steps for developing flow targets for subwatersheds within the LSRCA. This research contributes toward the advancement of EFA within the LSRCA, which provides opportunity for enhanced protection and restoration of ecosystem health across the watershed. / Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority