Stream Flow, Geomorphic, and Biological Assessments of Big Cypress Bayou An Update on USGS Activities J. Bruce Moring, Ph.D. U.S. Geological Survey Austin, Texas (office) (cell)

Stream Flow Objectives Objectives - Evaluate the accuracy and assumed benefits of prescribed flows derived from the flows-ecology building blocks. - Monitor stream flows during prescribed releases from Lake O The Pines (LOP). - Provide the USACE with stage and discharge data in support of modeling efforts to evaluate areas of inundation during releases from LOP. - Coordinate with USACE FW District Reservoir Control in translating prescribed flows to prescribed hydrographs for releases from LOP.

Stream Flow, cont. …. Eleven sites on Big Cypress Bayou instrumented with pressure transducers to monitor stage and temperature. Pressure transducers at 4 USGS study sites have been recording since the early winter of Seven USACE x-sections were instrumented with pressure transducers in late Jan 2007 to record LOP releases.

Tasks Completed Tasks Completed -Evaluated accuracy of prescribed flows to maintain aquatic diversity. -Evaluated accuracy of prescribed flows to maintain aquatic diversity. - Developed preliminary ratings for four USGS sites - Developed preliminary ratings for four USGS sites -Provided stage data from Jan 07 release from LOP to USACE for travel-time analysis. -Provided stage data from Jan 07 release from LOP to USACE for travel-time analysis. 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 prelim. ratings for 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented with pressure transducers. -Complete stage to discharge ratings for USGS sites and prelim. ratings for 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented with pressure transducers. -Determine the variability in high-flow pulses and low-flows in Big Cypress Bayou required to provide the geomorphic and ecological benefits defined in the building blocks with differences largely upstream and downstream of Jefferson! -Determine the variability in high-flow pulses and low-flows in Big Cypress Bayou required to provide the geomorphic and ecological benefits defined in the building blocks with 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 (± 5 cm) using RTK GPS at the 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented and convert all stage data to elevations. -Acquire highly accurate elevations (± 5 cm) using RTK GPS at the 7 USACE x-sections that are instrumented and convert all stage data to elevations. Stream Flow, cont. …

Geomorphic/Habitat Objectives Objectives -Determine basic geomorphic characteristics of the low-flow channel at selected sites on Big Cypress Bayou between Lake O The Pines and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou. -Determine basic geomorphic characteristics of the low-flow channel at selected sites on Big Cypress Bayou between Lake O The Pines and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou. -Evaluate the accuracy of prescribed flows as they relate to geomorphic features,.e.g., bankfull height, connectivity of geomorphic channel units such as riffles – runs – pools. -Evaluate the accuracy of prescribed flows as they relate to geomorphic features,.e.g., bankfull height, connectivity of geomorphic channel units such as riffles – runs – pools. -Compare differences in basic geomorphic characteristics between a primary reach on Big Cypress Bayou (BC01 at Sanders Ranch) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou. -Compare differences in basic geomorphic characteristics between a primary reach on Big Cypress Bayou (BC01 at Sanders Ranch) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou.

Tasks Completed Tasks Completed -Measured and compared -Measured and compared basis geomorphic characteristics basis geomorphic characteristics for 4 USGS study reaches. for 4 USGS study reaches. -Evaluated the accuracy and -Evaluated the accuracy and variability in prescribed flows variability 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. …

Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007) Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007) -Complete field assessments of primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BLC01). -Complete field assessments of primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BLC01). -Expand on comparing variability of channel features such as bankfull width and height (and bankfull discharge) in Big Cypress Bayou between LOP and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou bay adding USACE x-sections. -Expand on comparing variability of channel features such as bankfull width and height (and bankfull discharge) in Big Cypress Bayou between LOP and the confluence of Black Cypress Bayou bay adding USACE x-sections. Geomorphic/Habitat, cont. …

Aquatic Biota Objectives Objectives -Baseline (pre-release of prescribed flow) of the fish assemblage in Big Cypress Bayou at 4 USGS study reaches between LOP and confluence of Black Cypress Bayou. -Baseline (pre-release of prescribed flow) of the fish assemblage in Big Cypress Bayou at 4 USGS study reaches between LOP and confluence of Black Cypress Bayou. -Mesohabitat-specific (i.e., riffle-run-pool) assessment of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate (emphasis on FW mussells) taxa richness and relative abundance in a primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BL01). -Mesohabitat-specific (i.e., riffle-run-pool) assessment of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate (emphasis on FW mussells) taxa richness and relative abundance in a primary reach on Big Cypress (BC01) and an adjacent reach on Black Cypress (BL01).

Aquatic Biota, cont. … Tasks Completed Tasks Completed IBI Metric ComponentBC03BC02BC01BC00 Total # fish species # of native cyprinid species4566 # of benthic invertivore species # of sunfish species6566 # of intolerant species2242 % of indv as tolerant species* % of indv as omnivores % of indv as invertivores % of indv as piscivores # indv/seine haul # indv/min electrofishing % of indv as non-native species % of indv with anomailies Regional IBI SCORE AQUATIC LIFE USEHighExceptional * excluding western mosquitofish -Baseline fish assemblage Surveys at 4 USGS Study sites -Post Jan 07 release fish survey of Oxbow Lake that was hydrologically connected during release

Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007) Future Tasks (i.e., planned through Sept 2007) -Compare recent baseline fish data to historical data from Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou (i.e., source, Bonner at al. – TSU). -Compare recent baseline fish data to historical data from Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou (i.e., source, Bonner at al. – TSU). -Mesohabitat-specific fish surveys comparing habitat utilization between primary Big Cypress reach (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou (BL01). -Mesohabitat-specific fish surveys comparing habitat utilization between primary Big Cypress reach (BC01) and adjacent reach on Black Cypress Bayou (BL01). -Comparison of mussel and fish diversity between primary reaches on Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou. -Comparison of mussel and fish diversity between primary reaches on Big Cypress and Black Cypress Bayou. Aquatic Biota, cont. …

Schedule May - Sept 2007Month TaskMayJuneJulyAugSept Flows-Ecology Meeting in Jefferson16th Flows-Ecology Meeting in Austin6th Field trip(s) for elevations for USGS/USACE monuments 11th - 22nd Geomorph/Biological Surveys of Big and Black Cypress25th - 29th Elevation data, ratings, etc.. available to USACE20th Fy07 project summary, data and PP presentations to CLI30th

BC03 (Thomas Camp) COE16 (USACE X-section below Jefferson and just above confluence of Black Cypress Bayou