Main channel measurements of temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration are used to describe trout habitat in Bull Shoals Reservoir during August, September and October for 1963-1965 and 1969-1973. These months were chosen to show selected events preceding the October minimum of potential trout habitat. Watershed inflow to the reservoir, generation releases, and inflow from upstream Table Rock Dam were analyzed to determine correlations among these factors and minimum volume of potential trout habitat remaining in Bull Shoals Reservoir each year prior to recirculation. Rainfall is the governing influence over watershed inflow, Table Rock Dam inflow, and release from Bull shoals Dam. During 1973, 161.3 cm of rain fell on the watershed compared to an average of 106.7 cm; trout habitat in the hypolimnion of the reservoir was completely lost by mid-October.
