Effects of Reservoir Releases on Water Quality, Macroinvertebrates, and Fish in Tailwaters: Field Study Results.

摘要

This report summarizes field investigations conducted at seven reservoirs in 1979 and 1980 to determine the effect of reservoir releases on tailwater biota. The study sites differ greatly in project purpose, depth of water release from the reservoir, and location and are representative of many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs throughout the United States. Studies were conducted in tailwaters below both flood-control and peaking hydropower projects. Effects of reservoir discharge were most evident near the dams where environmental stress was most severe; farther downstream the effect were moderated. The invertebrate and fish communities in tailwaters were affected most by the temperature, volume, and timing of the discharges. High levels of iron and manganese occurred in most tailwaters, but their effects on invertebrates and fish were not addresed in this study. The numbers of invertebrate and fish species were largest in tailwaters of flood-control projects with warmwater release and smallest in tailwaters of large hydropower projects.