Development of Aquatic Ecosystem Models Lizhu Wang, Shaw Lacy,
Paul Seebach, Mike Wiley Institute for Fisheries Research MDNR and
U of M
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Project Objectives Develop statewide models for predicting
stream flows and summer water temperature; Develop models
describing relationships among base flow, water temperature, and
trout population; Test model sensitivity by incorporating site-
specific data from Augusta Creek; Evaluate effectiveness of
catchment BMPs in offsetting ground water withdraw.
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TROUT FLOW TEMPERATURE The Key Step: Describe relationships
among flow, temperature, and trout
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Build Statewide GIS Databases Identify stream measuring
unit
Build Statewide GIS Databases Delineate catchment boundaries
for each unit
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Reaches, Watersheds, Riparian Zones, and Upstream
Catchments
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Upstream Catchment Context
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Build Statewide GIS Databases Synthesize landscape &
instream characteristics for each stream unit
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Reach of Interest
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Synthesize Landscape Data Land use/land cover Surficial geology
texture & formation Soil permeability Bedrock depth &
geology Average annual growing degree days Average annual
precipitation Air temperature Ground water delivery potential Darcy
Land use transformation model output
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Synthesize Network & Instream Data Arc gradient Catchment
gradient Arc sinuosity Arc stream order, linkage number Arc
fragmentation by dams and linkages with lakes and large rivers
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Variables and Scales The database contain about 300 variables.
The data are organized into 5 scales Channel Riparian (arc)
Riparian (entire) Watershed (arc) Watershed (entire) From Paul
Steen, 2004
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Build Sampled Databases Link sampled flow, temperature, and
trout data with each stream unit
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Develop Summer Water Temperature Model Collected continuous
summer water temperature from about 500 sites throughout Michigan.
Developed geo-statistical and generalized additive regression
models for July mean ---- Temperature kriging + residual modeling
(Mallows Cp, Min AIC). Model explains 77% variance.
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Michigan Stream Temp. Predictions 26.0 C 9.0 C
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Flow Models Multiple regression models for predicting annual
and August 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, 95% exceeding flows; Models
explain 78 97% variance. Based on 83 sites that have >20 years
flow data
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Annual Flow Predictions 90% Flow Yield
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Stream Sites Sampled for Fish Community Based on fish data from
about 1500 sites
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July mean water temperature o C Link flow, Temperature, and
Trout (hypothetical model) Cold Marginal Typical
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ColdTypicalMarginal
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July mean water temperature o C Link flow, Temperature, and
Trout (hypothetical model) Cold Marginal Typical
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ColdTypicalMarginal
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Augusta Creek Watershed Max July Temp Difference 1) 4C ( 7.2F)
2) 7C ( 12.6F) 3) 4C ( 7.2F) 4) 11.5C ( 20.7F) 5) 5C ( 9F) 6) 10.5C
( 18.9F) 7) 6.5C ( 11.7F) 8) 8C ( 14.4F) 9) 7.5C ( 13.5F) 5. 4. 7.
3. 9. 6. 8. 2. 1. (trib) Gull Lake N
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Summary Identified stream measuring unit; Delineated catchment
boundaries of each unit; Synthesized landscape & instream
characteristics of each unit; Linked sampled data for trout, flow,
and tempertaure with each stream unit. Developed models for
prediction of flow and temperature. Partially built models linking
trout, flow, and temperatur. Collected temperature and fish data
from Augusta Creek.