Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Alabama
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Natural flow and thermal conditions are well recognized to support a diverse and natural assemblage structure. However, a complete reinstatement of natural flows is often not realistic when balancing water needs for ecosystems with human demands including energy production via hydropower. Thus, identifying a set of flow patterns that meets some ecological needs considering realistic constraints is often needed. Our project goal is to better understand the relationship between flow and temperature dynamics and riverine sport, food, and forage fishes of the lower Tallapoosa River. Our study objectives are to estimate seasonal relative abundance of fishes in the lower Tallapoosa River, determine how recruitment and growth are related to flow and temperature conditions of the Tallapoosa River, and assess reproduction by several stream fishes as related to discharge, water temperature, and photoperiod.