Stream Flow, Geomorphic, and Stream Flow, Geomorphic, and Biological Assessments of Biological Assessments of

Big Cypress BayouBig Cypress Bayou

An Update on USGS Activities An Update on USGS Activities

J. Bruce Moring, Ph.D.J. Bruce Moring, Ph.D.U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey

Austin, TexasAustin, Texas

jbmoring@usgs.govjbmoring@usgs.gov512.927.3585 (office)512.927.3585 (office)512.940.0505 (cell)512.940.0505 (cell)

Stream FlowStream Flow

ObjectivesObjectives

- Evaluate the accuracy and assumed benefits of prescribed Evaluate the accuracy and assumed benefits of prescribed flows derived from the flows-ecology building blocks.flows derived from the flows-ecology building blocks.

- Monitor stream flows during prescribed releases from Lake Monitor stream flows during prescribed releases from Lake O’ The Pines (LOP).O’ The Pines (LOP).

- Provide the USACE with stage and discharge data in support Provide the USACE with stage and discharge data in support of modeling efforts to evaluate areas of inundation during of modeling efforts to evaluate areas of inundation during releases from LOP.releases from LOP.

- Coordinate with USACE FW District Reservoir Control in Coordinate with USACE FW District Reservoir Control in translating prescribed flows to prescribed hydrographs for translating prescribed flows to prescribed hydrographs for releases from LOP.releases from LOP.

Stream Flow, cont. ….Stream Flow, cont. ….

Eleven sites on Big Cypress Bayou instrumentedwith pressure transducersto monitor stage andtemperature.

Pressure transducersat 4 USGS study siteshave been recordingsince the early winter of 2006.

Seven USACE x-sectionswere instrumented withpressure transducers inlate Jan 2007 to recordLOP releases.

Tasks CompletedTasks Completed -Evaluated accuracy of -Evaluated accuracy of

prescribed flows to prescribed flows to maintain aquatic maintain aquatic diversity.diversity.

- - Developed preliminary Developed preliminary ratings for four USGS sitesratings for four USGS sites

-Provided stage data from -Provided stage data from Jan 07 release from LOP Jan 07 release from LOP to USACE for travel-time to USACE for travel-time analysis.analysis.

Stream Flow, cont. …Stream Flow, cont. …

Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007)Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007) -Complete stage to discharge ratings for USGS sites and -Complete stage to discharge ratings for USGS sites and

prelim. ratings for 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented prelim. ratings for 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented with pressure transducers.with pressure transducers.

-Determine the variability in high-flow pulses and low-flows in -Determine the variability in high-flow pulses and low-flows in Big Cypress Bayou required to provide the geomorphic and Big Cypress Bayou required to provide the geomorphic and ecological benefits defined in the building blocks with ecological benefits defined in the building blocks with differences largely upstream and downstream of Jefferson!differences largely upstream and downstream of Jefferson!

- Emphasis on flows between bankfull and subsistence! - Emphasis on flows between bankfull and subsistence!

-Acquire highly accurate elevations (-Acquire highly accurate elevations (± 5 cm) ± 5 cm) using RTK GPS at using RTK GPS at the 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented and convert all the 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented and convert all stage data to elevations.stage data to elevations.

Stream Flow, cont. …Stream Flow, cont. …

Geomorphic/HabitatGeomorphic/Habitat

ObjectivesObjectives -Determine basic geomorphic characteristics of the low-flow -Determine basic geomorphic characteristics of the low-flow

channel at selected sites on Big Cypress Bayou between channel at selected sites on Big Cypress Bayou between Lake O’ The Pines and the confluence of Black Cypress Lake O’ The Pines and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou.Bayou.

-Evaluate the accuracy of prescribed flows as they relate to -Evaluate the accuracy of prescribed flows as they relate to geomorphic features, .e.g., bankfull height, connectivity of geomorphic features, .e.g., bankfull height, connectivity of geomorphic channel units such as riffles – runs – pools.geomorphic channel units such as riffles – runs – pools.

-Compare differences in basic geomorphic characteristics -Compare differences in basic geomorphic characteristics between a primary reach on Big Cypress Bayou (BC01 at between a primary reach on Big Cypress Bayou (BC01 at Sander’s Ranch) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress Sander’s Ranch) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou.Bayou.

Tasks CompletedTasks Completed

-Measured and compared-Measured and compared

basis geomorphic basis geomorphic characteristicscharacteristics

for 4 USGS study reaches.for 4 USGS study reaches.

-Evaluated the accuracy and -Evaluated the accuracy and

variability in prescribed flowsvariability in prescribed flows

as related to basic geomorphic as related to basic geomorphic

features at 4 USGS study sites. features at 4 USGS study sites.

Geomorphic/Habitat, cont. …Geomorphic/Habitat, cont. …

Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007)2007)

-Complete field assessments of primary reach on Big Cypress -Complete field assessments of primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BLC01).(BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BLC01).

-Expand on comparing variability of channel features such as -Expand on comparing variability of channel features such as bankfull width and height (and bankfull discharge) in Big bankfull width and height (and bankfull discharge) in Big Cypress Bayou between LOP and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou between LOP and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou bay adding USACE x-sections.Cypress Bayou bay adding USACE x-sections.

Geomorphic/Habitat, cont. …Geomorphic/Habitat, cont. …

Aquatic BiotaAquatic Biota

ObjectivesObjectives -Baseline (pre-release of prescribed flow) of the fish -Baseline (pre-release of prescribed flow) of the fish

assemblage in Big Cypress Bayou at 4 USGS study reaches assemblage in Big Cypress Bayou at 4 USGS study reaches between LOP and confluence of Black Cypress Bayou.between LOP and confluence of Black Cypress Bayou.

-Mesohabitat-specific (i.e., riffle-run-pool) assessment of fish -Mesohabitat-specific (i.e., riffle-run-pool) assessment of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate (emphasis on FW mussells) and benthic macroinvertebrate (emphasis on FW mussells) taxa richness and relative abundance in a primary reach on taxa richness and relative abundance in a primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress Big Cypress (BC01) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BL01). (BL01).

Aquatic BiotaAquatic Biota, , cont. …cont. …

Tasks CompletedTasks Completed

IBI Metric Component BC03 BC02 BC01 BC00

Total # fish species 26 29 28 27

# of native cyprinid species 4 5 6 6

# of benthic invertivore species 17 18 20 15

# of sunfish species 6 5 6 6

# of intolerant species 2 2 4 2

% of indv as tolerant species* 15.50 9.28 9.88 19.81

% of indv as omnivores 5.25 2.69 0.50 7.74

% of indv as invertivores 89.00 94.01 96.82 84.52

% of indv as piscivores 4.25 3.29 2.51 7.43

# indv/seine haul 0.00 1.75 3.40 0.00

# indv/min electrofishing 7.17 5.53 11.71 5.87

% of indv as non-native species 0.25 0.30 0.00 0.00

% of indv with anomailies 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.31

Regional IBI SCORE 51.00 53.00 55.00 55.00

AQUATIC LIFE USE High Exceptional Exceptional Exceptional

* excluding western mosquitofish

-Baseline fish assemblageSurveys at 4 USGSStudy sites

-Post Jan 07 release fishsurvey of Oxbow Lake that was hydrologicallyconnected during release

Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007)2007)

-Compare recent baseline fish data to historical data from Big -Compare recent baseline fish data to historical data from Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou (i.e., source, Bonner at al. Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou (i.e., source, Bonner at al. – TSU). – TSU).

-Mesohabitat-specific fish surveys comparing habitat -Mesohabitat-specific fish surveys comparing habitat utilization between primary Big Cypress reach (BC01) and utilization between primary Big Cypress reach (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou (BL01). adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou (BL01).

-Comparison of mussel and fish diversity between primary -Comparison of mussel and fish diversity between primary reaches on Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou.reaches on Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou.

Aquatic Biota, cont. …Aquatic Biota, cont. …

Schedule May - Sept 2007 Month

Task May June July Aug Sept

Flows-Ecology Meeting in Jefferson 16th

Flows-Ecology Meeting in Austin 6th

Field trip(s) for elevations for USGS/USACE monuments

11th - 22nd

Geomorph/Biological Surveys of Big and Black Cypress 25th - 29th

Elevation data, ratings, etc .. available to USACE 20th

Fy07 project summary, data and PP presentations to CLI 30th

BC03 (Thomas Camp)

COE16 (USACEX-section belowJefferson and justabove confluenceof Black CypressBayou