Chapter 1 Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...
Chapter 1 Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...
Chapter 1 Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...
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Habitat Criteria <strong>and</strong> Characterization Methods Used to Develop<br />
MFLs<br />
Fish Passage<br />
9) The peer review panel has questioned the adequacy of the fish<br />
passage depth for maintaining negative effects associated with low<br />
flows in warm water ecosystems (i.e., temperature, dissolved<br />
oxygen, <strong>and</strong> algal blooms). The peer review staff further seeks<br />
assurance that the hydrologic control points were systematically<br />
identified. On page 4-18, in the last paragraph, it is stated, “The flows<br />
were determined by adding the 0.6-ft depth fish-passage criterion to the<br />
elevation of the lowest spot in the channel <strong>and</strong> determining the flow<br />
necessary to achieve the resultant elevations.” It would be helpful to the<br />
reader if the determination of “…the lowest spot in the channel…” was<br />
more thoroughly described in the report.<br />
As noted in item (5) above the District has committed to the study <strong>and</strong><br />
confirmation of its low flow threshold criteria (e.g., fish passage water depth).<br />
The dissolved oxygen <strong>and</strong> water temperature study currently being conducted by<br />
staff seeks to validate or improve the fish passage estimate with regard to the<br />
implied protection of oxygenation <strong>and</strong> thermal characteristics associated with<br />
flow across river shoals.<br />
With respect to the panel's concerns regarding description of the "lowest spot in<br />
the channel", staff notes that the lowest spot in the channel refers to the lowest<br />
surveyed elevation in the respective shoal cross-section. Staff has revised the<br />
MFLs report to clarify this description.<br />
9-11