Benjamin King, 2024

Thesis:

The effects of scour and marginal inundation on Trinity River invertebrate biomass and density with potential implications for juvenile salmonid food resources

Ben's research describes benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) communities in perennially and seasonally inundated habitats on the Trinity River under varying inundation periods. In addition, Ben describes benthic community composition shift after a winter streambed scouring event. The hydrologic regime can play a large role in benthic community dynamics. Historically, high flows on the Trinity occurred in the late winter/ early spring. Today, flows on the Trinity River are regulated by the Lewiston Dam and as a result, there is little flow variability in the winter/spring months and high flows occur in the summer when water is released. The results of this research can help guide a better tailored flow regime to support juvenile salmonids which feed heavily on BMI’s.