S. Hardin

Removal of Dead Lake Dam in December 1987 reduced low pool elevation an additional 1.3 m, resulting in approximately 85 percent bottom exposure. Increased fluctuation provided short-term benefits to the sport fish community in the form of strong largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) year classes and improved water quality. Percent composition of dominant sport fish changed little after dam removal, but total fish species observed increased from 34 to 61 after dam removal. Increased elevation in the Apalachicola River resulted in reduced flow and depressed dissolved oxygen levels in Dead...

Placement of dredged rock material (90% < 5 cm in diameter) on degraded sand disposal sites in the Apalachicola River, Florida, to enhance sportfish populations was evaluated between July 1988 and November 1989. Newly created rock habitats and training dikes yielded significantly greater (P < 0.05) sportfish catch per unit effort (CPUE) than did sand disposal sites. Water velocity, rock size, water depth, and site orientation with respect to river flow were more important in determining sportfish abundance than rock site configuration. Mean macroinvertebrate densities and number of...