Analysis initiated to understand how flow patterns affect biological health of modified channels

The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has begun examining how flow alterations affect the biological health of streams that have been modified via channel hardening – part of a three-year study working to identify which stressors are major contributors to biological degradation in these streams.

The flow-ecology investigation, launched in July, will compare the biological health of modified channels to other types of streams to understand how flow influences biological condition in streams with different types of modifications.

From the study, researchers hope to gain insights about how to improve the biological health of modified streams – without reversing existing channel modification features that are crucial for flood protection.