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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69729
Title: FISHES OF DROP PIPE CREATED HABITATS

Author
item Smiley, Peter
item Cooper, Charles
item Knight, Scott

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Field-scale grade control structures, or drop pipes, have been utilized extensively to control gully erosion in the Demonstration Erosion Control project in the Yazoo Basin of Mississippi. A by-product of installing this erosion control structure on deeply incised channels is the creation of field level wetlands and small stream level pools located at the pipe outlet. Field level wetlands on Hotophia, Long, and Otoucalofa Creek were sampled with a seine, while stream level pools and adjacent stream reaches of Hotophia Creek were sampled with an electroshocker. Eleven fish species and 6338 captures were recorded from field level wetlands. A total of 11 species and 200 fish were captured in the drop pipe created stream level pools, while the total species richness in adjacent stream reaches was 21 species from a total of 1023 captures. Data demonstrates that drop pipe installation is creating additional fish habitats within the watershed in incised streams. When considering these environmental improvements occurred as result of standard installation practices, it is clear that potential restoration benefits of drop pipe installation have yet to be realized.