Hydraulic geometry as a physical template for the River Continuum: application to optimal flows and longitudinal trends in salmonid habitat
The River Continuum Concept lacks a quantitative physical model to represent downstream trends in habitat. We evaluate whether hydraulic geometry relationships can be used as a physical template to predict longitudinal trends in habitat availability and optimal flows for different life-history stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Optimal flows based on hydraulic geometry indicate that (i) optimal flows are higher for larger fish, (ii) optimal flows proportionally increase as streams became smaller and decrease downstream, and (iii) maximum predicted habitat suitabilities for fry and juveniles are in small streams, and maximum suitabilities are displaced progressively downstream for later life-history stages. These patterns are an emergent property of downstream increases in channel depth and velocity and changes in habitat suitability curves associated with increased swimming performance of larger fish. Nonlinear downstream trends in habitat imply that fixed flow percentages recommended by the Tenant method may substantially underestimate optimal flows in small streams. Despite oversimplifying complex channel structure, hydraulic geometry relationships should serve as a useful physical model for testing downstream trends in habitat-related processes along the river continuum.