True Cost of Reservoirs:What happens to the aquatic fauna?

Judy TakatsSenior Program Officer

World Wildlife Fund

Saturday, 27 February 2010

Who is WWF?

An international conservation organization that is supported by almost 5 million members globally, 1.2 million members in the United States and over 110,000 in the Southeast Rivers and Streams ecoregion.

The diversity of life isn't evenly distributed around the globe. It is concentrated in certain areas, making them a greater priority for conservation.

Places of Focus

Goal: By 2020, WWF will conserve 19 of the world's most

important natural places and significantly change

global markets to protect the future of nature.

Places of Focus

Amazon

Coral Triangle

Madagascar

Alabama +

Tennessee =

70.9% area

About 10.8 million people rely on the waters – projected to grow

266,483 km2 (102,890 mi2)

Lay of the Water - The Southeast Rivers and Streams

Outside of the

Amazon and

Mekong, the

Southeast Rivers

and Streams of the

United States is

the most

aquatically

biodiverse.

The highest

number of fish,

snail, mussel,

crayfish,

amphibians

species in North

America.

Lower and Upper Colorado River Basins

Columbia River Basin

Cahaba - 131

Clinch – 126

Conasauga – 76

Paint Rock – 79

Duck – 147

Lay of the Water - Native Fish

33 Native Fish Species

25 Native Fish Species

Lay of the Water - August 2008 (Fishes)

Why Are So Many Species in Decline?

Dams/Impoundments

• Barrier to migration

Impacts to Aquatic Species

dam!

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Sediments

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Sediments

• Mussel and snail species

12 species of mussels and 26 species (63%) of freshwater snails were lost when the river was dammed and modified.

Currently,

7 threatened or endangered fish

10 threatened or endangered mussels

3 threatened or endangered snails Pleurobema decisum Gary Peeples, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

relationship

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Sediments

• Mussel and snail species?

• Water Flow

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Mussel and snail species?

• Sediments

• Water flow

• Water Temperature

Impacts to Aquatic Species

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Mussel and snail species?

• Sediments

• Water flow

• Water Temperature

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Mussel and snail species?

• Sediments

• Water flow

• Water Temperature

• Dissolved Oxygen

Impacts to Aquatic Species

• Barrier to migration

• Benthic diversity downstream of dam?

• Mussel and snail species?

• Sediments

• Water flow

• Water Temperature

• Dissolved Oxygen

• Certain recreational fishing

Impacts to Aquatic Species