Development of a Wetland/Riparian Resource Model for the Missouri River System

by C. McShane, Enserch Environmental, Bellevue, United States,
D. Becker, Enserch Environmental, Bellevue, United States,
R. Tressler, Enserch Environmental, Bellevue, United States,
J. Cannon, Enserch Environmental, Bellevue, United States,
J. Rude, Enserch Environmental, Bellevue, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Policy and Management: Solving the Problems

Abstract:

Wetlands and riparian areas are significant resources along the Missouri River, providing important fish and wildlife habitat. These resources required evaluation as part of the review and update of the Missouri River Water Control Master Manual. Part of this review and update process included development of a model that would simulate annual changes in the acreage of wetland/riparian vegetation as a function of Missouri River flows and lake levels. The assumption underlying development of this model is that the quantity of wetland and riparian vegetation is controlled by hydrology and successional response processes. The wetland/riparian resource model consists of three major components. During model operation these components are integrated for each year of the 93- year period of simulation. Numerous simulations were run to estimate wetland/riparian response to various water control plan alternatives. Outputs from the model for a wide range of alternatives were compared to assess quantitatively the response of wetlands and riparian vegetation to hydrological changes proposed for the Missouri River system.



Subject Headings: Wetlands (fresh water) | Simulation models | Rivers and streams | Water resources | Vegetation | Hydrologic models | Water conservation | Missouri River

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