Services:

Kootenai River Varial Zone Recolonization Study

Issue:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks contracted with OASIS to investigate the recolonization rates of benthic macroinvertebrates in the varial zone of the Kootenai River downstream of Libby Dam in Montana.

Solution:

In an effort to assess the effect of various Libby Dam operation strategies on lotic energy pathways, Marotz and Althen (2004) developed a benthic biomass model (RivBio) to estimate colonization and subsequent recovery periods of the benthic community (algae and macroinvertebrates) in the varial zone of the Kootenai River. The RivBio model currently assumes a 47-day sigmoidal curve for recolonization and recovery to pre-disturbance conditions based on estimates of recolonization rates obtained from the scientific literature. Empirical data gathered by OASIS on the Kootenai River will test assumptions in the RivBio model. Time series sampling of the benthic macroinvertebrate in the varial zone throughout the summer season will quantify colonization rates. Benthic samples taken in the permanently wetted zone under base flow conditions serve as a reference. Varial zone benthic samples obtained over a sixty-day time period in five-day increments will enable researchers to measure colonization rates. Comparisons include benthic abundance, species richness, similarity indices and other metrics.

Results:

Long-term study currently underway.

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