Influences of Fluctuating Releases on Stream Fishes and Habitat in the Smith River, below Philpott Dam

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dc.contributor.authorOrth, Donald J.en
dc.contributor.authorDiplas, Panosen
dc.contributor.authorDolloff, C. Andrewen
dc.contributor.authorNewcomb, Tammy J.en
dc.contributor.authorKrause, Colin W.en
dc.contributor.authorNovinger, Douglas A.en
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, Marcy R.en
dc.contributor.authorBuhyoff, G. Matthewen
dc.contributor.authorHunter, Anne K.en
dc.contributor.authorShen, Yien
dc.coverage.countryUnited Statesen
dc.coverage.countyPatrick Countyen
dc.coverage.stateVirginiaen
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-22T12:22:35Zen
dc.date.available2022-06-22T12:22:35Zen
dc.date.issued2004-12en
dc.date.updated2022-06-20T20:48:54Zen
dc.description.abstractOperations of Philpott dam for flood control and peak power generation since 1953 have substantially altered downstream ecosystem conditions in the Smith River from the dam to Martinsville. We have described in intensive detail aspects of habitat and fish populations in the tailwater over the past four years (2000 to 2004), analyzed the limited historical information available to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms behind observed changes in the tailwater, and recommend appropriate actions to improve depressed fish populations and environmental conditions. Our research emphasizes that there are no “silver bullet” solutions and the most successful path toward improving the tailwater will reflect numerous tradeoffs to balance environmental, economic, and recreational goals. However, it is clear that enhancing conditions in the Smith River hinge on mitigating the effects of fluctuating releases from Philpott Dam through a combination of flow management (e.g. characteristics of dam operations during baseflow and peak flow periods) and habitat improvement (e.g. channel restoration, temperature management, enhanced biological productivity). In addition, removal or modification of Martinsville Dam to enhance flow, habitat, and fish and sediment passage would benefit fish populations and environmental conditions in the lower tailwater. Current fishery management strategies which are ineffective for enhancing brown trout should be re-evaluated after habitat and flow changes are instituted. Management actions for improving flow and habitat also should be assessed in light of the presence of the Federally Endangered Roanoke logperch Percina rex that also appear to be limited by degraded environmental conditions in the tailwater.en
dc.format.extent295 page(s)en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifierFederal Aid Grant F-121-R-5 (Report number)en
dc.identifier.orcidOrth, Donald [0000-0002-9236-0147]en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/110858en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.ispartofInfluences of Fluctuating Releases on Stream Fishes and Habitat in the Smith River, below Philpott Damen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectSmith Riveren
dc.subjectPhilpott Damen
dc.titleInfluences of Fluctuating Releases on Stream Fishes and Habitat in the Smith River, below Philpott Damen
dc.typeReporten
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Natural Resources & Environmenten
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Natural Resources & Environment/Fish and Wildlife Conservationen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/All T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Natural Resources & Environment/CNRE T&R Facultyen
pubs.place-of-publicationBlacksburg, Virginiaen

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