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Flow Alteration in Great Lakes Basin Rivers: Extent and Effects
Project Manager: J. David Allan, University of Michigan
Phone: (734) 764-6553
E-mail: dallan@umich.edu 		Click to see

PowerPoint Presentation
Natural System and Location:
Entire basin, with likely emphasis on U.S. side and Michigan in particular.
Hypothesis/Goal:
  1. Flow regimes vary throughout basin and can be identified and grouped.
  2. Fish assemblages vary in accord with flow regime.
  3. The influence of land use change on flow regime can be determined by prediction modeling. The goal is to deliver information to interested users via clickable map.
Restoration Strategy:
  1. Identify priorities for restoration effort by determining extent of flow alteration.
  2. Provide a template for mapping restoration effort transferability.
  3. Empower the public.
The University of Michigan will evaluate the influence of land use and structures on flow regimes. Study sites will be selected in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and New York. The project will identify geographical patterns of flow and evaluate them to determine the influence of land use and dams on flow variations. The project will also determine how flow alteration affects fish assemblages. The information developed through this project will allow for better decision-making through greater understanding of the effects of flow alterations. The final results will include a GIS product, including mapped gages with hydrologic information, dams with attributes, and biological information. Dr. Allan and his team will also provide coordination, technical support and assistance to the portfolio of projects.
Anticipated Outcomes/Environmental Affects:
Readily accessible data bases providing information on Great Lakes Basin rivers and their flow regimes, gages, dams and fish assemblages.
Progress to Date:
Historical analysis of flow regime for the basin completed for 425 gages in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Great Lake tributary flows have increased in magnitude over the latter part of the 20th century, with extreme flows increasing in frequency. These results mimic those reported earlier for Michigan gages. The basinwide inventories of dams nearing completion - many small dams are excluded from existing agency inventories. A summary and proceedings from the second Natural Flow Regime Restoration Workshop held on October 22 - 24 are nearly complete.

Initial outline for a "Citizen's Guide for Natural Flow Regime Restoration" has been developed. Small work group in the process of being assembled to assist with technical writing and editing of Citizen's Guide. Great Lakes Commission (subcontract) developing "clickable map" and associated databases to distribute flow restoration data sets, references, and tools on CD-ROM.

URL: www.snre.umich.edu/glpf/
School of Natural Resources and Environment
Dana Building
430 East University
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1115
riverflows@snre.umich.edu