NAVPAT evaluates the effects of commercial navigation traffic on riverine fish habitat. On the Winfield Pool of the Kanawha River, NAVPAT was used to evaluate changes in fish habitat as a result of lock improvements at the Winfield Lock and Dam made during the 1990's. Fifteen species/life stages were evaluated at a range of traffic levels. The Winfield Pool was divided into 127 longitudinal reaches and each reach was divided into lateral cells having similar depth, velocity, and substrate size. Without traffic habitat quality is determined based on ambient depth, velocity, substrate size, and available structure. Without traffic habitat is degraded by tow traffic as a result of velocity change, substrate scour, and propeller entrainment. NAVPAT results on Winfield Pool showed three different responses to navigation traffic. Seven of the fifteen species/life stages showed no effects of navigation traffic on riverine fish habitat at any of the traffic levels tested on Winfield Pool. Four of the fifteen species/life stages showed effects of navigation traffic but no difference as a result of the lock improvements made during the 1990's. The last four of the fifteen species/life stages, swiftwater spawners, showed not only effects of navigation but also differences in habitat quality as a result of the lock improvements. Evaluation of the existing NAVPAT habitat relationships suggests using a guild approach to promote a more community level approach to habitat assessment.
NAVPAT Application to Winfield Pool, Kanawha River, and Evaluation of NAVPAT Habitat Relationships
2005
121 pages
Report
No indication
English
Capacity Studies of Winfield Locks, Kanawha River, West Virginia
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