modeling of river velocity, temperature, bed deformation and its effects on rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss) habitat in lees ferry, colorado river

quantification of the habitat available for fish species named rainbow trout (oncorhynchusmykiss) were evaluated in lees ferry, colorado river using water depth, water temperature, sediment transport,flow velocity in 2004 as environmental index. for the flow velocity and temperature distribution calculationsin the river, the navier-stokes equation and energy conservation equations with finite volume approach hasbeen employed. sediment transport and river bed deformation in lees ferry were also calculated based onengelund-hansen equations. the suitability index (si) curves based on these four biological, ecological andhydraulic factors were obtained and fish habitat suitability function was established. the hsi (habitat suitabilityindex), wua (weighted useable area), osi (overall suitability index) of the fish species were quantitativelycalculated using si curves coupled with habitat suitability function. the effects of these variables on the leesferry river areas were analyzed. the results showed that the model system can correctly represent therainbow trout living situation. the wua and osi are generally low in less ferry and the proportions of highquality of osi (hsi ) are even less which is in accordance with the real situation. the results alsorevealed that there is a nonlinear relationship between flow discharge and suitable habitat areas.