Using An Energy Gradient Metric To Predict Fish Habitat Selection Eric McLeskey CEE 6440 Term Project

Why Use an Energy Metric? Drift feeding stream salmonids use velocity gradients to maximize energy intake and conserve energy. Drift feeding stream salmonids use velocity gradients to maximize energy intake and conserve energy. Most habitat studies (e.g., PHABSIM) use point velocity suitability curves. Most habitat studies (e.g., PHABSIM) use point velocity suitability curves. Point velocity values do not describe the variability in the flow field around each point. Point velocity values do not describe the variability in the flow field around each point. Ability to distinguish between two points in a flow field with the same point velocity. Ability to distinguish between two points in a flow field with the same point velocity.

One Energy Metric Is a measure of the spatial change in kinetic energy between two points in a flow field Is a measure of the spatial change in kinetic energy between two points in a flow field 1 Crowder, D.W. and P. Diplas Evaluating spatially explicit metrics of stream energy gradients using hydrodynamic model simulations. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 57:

Objectives Apply the metric developed by Crowder and Diplas to a velocity data set. Apply the metric developed by Crowder and Diplas to a velocity data set.  Access grid values  Data conversion and interpolation outside of GIS Conduct a sensitivity analysis for different values of  s. Conduct a sensitivity analysis for different values of  s.

Study Site 250 m section of the Blacksmith Fork River, UT Third order; 1750 m elevation Grid resolution m (1ft)

Applying the Metric Properly

Assumptions Only lateral velocity gradients important Only lateral velocity gradients important Velocity vectors parallel with stream edge Velocity vectors parallel with stream edge

Creating the (x’,y’) Mesh

Interpolating Velocities Using Terra Model Interpolated velocity point shapefile x,y, & velocity value table

Interpolated Velocity Grid Used PFE text editor to assemble interpolated velocity values into an ASCII table. ASCII to Grid tool in ArcToolbox This grid was opened in ArcMap and a Visual Basic Macro was used to run the metric computations.

Accessing Grid Values

Metric Calculation for  s = 2 ft Visual analysis of fish locations Correlated positive metric values

Results Moderate correlation for  s of 2 & 3 Moderate correlation for  s of 2 & 3 Overall low correlations Overall low correlations  Highly productive stream  Uniform flow

Possible Future Research Include multiple size classes in analysis Include multiple size classes in analysis Apply metric to another study site Apply metric to another study site Determine metric threshold value Determine metric threshold value Develop metric suitability curves Develop metric suitability curves

Acknowledgements Greg Guensch Greg Guensch INSE, Utah State University Staff INSE, Utah State University Staff  Craig Addley  Mark Winkelaar  Shannon Clemens

Questions?