Phase 1 Studies: Impacts of Commercial Navigation Traffic on Freshwater Mussels: A Review

Turbulence and wave wash from commercial navigation vessels can resuspend sediments, reverse river currents, and cause water drawdown. These physical effects can stress or kill pelagic fish eggs and larvae, bottom- dwelling invertebrates such as freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae), aquatic insect...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Miller, Andrew C, Payne, Barry S, Way, Carl M
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AQUATIC INSECTS
Biology
COMMERCE
CONCENTRATION(COMPOSITION)
CRUSTACEA
EGGS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
FISHES
FRESH WATER
FRESHWATER MUSSELS
HEIGHT
JUDGEMENT(PSYCHOLOGY)
KILL PROBABILITIES
LARVAE
MERCHANT VESSELS
MUSSELS
NAVIGATION
OCEANS
PARAMETERS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POPULATION
PREDICTIONS
REVERSIBLE
RIVER CURRENTS
SEDIMENTS
SHIPPING
Surface Transportation and Equipment
SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS
TEST FACILITIES
TRAFFIC
TURBULENCE
VELOCITY
WATER
Water Pollution and Control
WAVES
WORMS
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Summary:Turbulence and wave wash from commercial navigation vessels can resuspend sediments, reverse river currents, and cause water drawdown. These physical effects can stress or kill pelagic fish eggs and larvae, bottom- dwelling invertebrates such as freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae), aquatic insects, worms, and crustaceans. Impacts of navigation traffic have been studied in the field and the laboratory. In field studies, investigators have measured wave height, drawdown, current reversals, and suspended sediment concentrations associated with passage of commercial vessels. These data have been used to make judgements on the effects of traffic on naturally occurring populations and to construct predictive physical models. Naturally occurring populations can be studied at sites affected by commercial traffic. Test sites can be located close to the navigation lane, and control (or reference) sites can be located some distance away. At each site, important biological parameters (individual condition, density, biomass, evidence of recent recruitment, species richness, or species diversity) can be determined for organisms of interest. Changes in water velocity or suspended sediments can be measured before and after tow passage. These studies should be continued for several years to determine if commercial traffic is affecting naturally occurring populations.