Sand Dredging Effects on Fishes and Fish Habitat in the Kansas River

Funding: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Duration: 2009-2011
Personnel: Craig Paukert and Melinda Daniels (K-State Geography)

MS student (TBD)

Objectives

Identify if Species in Greatest Conservation Need are located at sand dredge reaches in the Kansas River.

Determine if fish communities differ at dredge and reference reaches in the Kansas River, and does the fish community change seasonally?

Identify if habitat (depth and water velocity) is altered in sand dredge reaches compared to reference reaches.

Measure the extent, if any, of fragmentation of habitat of sand dredging in the Kansas River (i.e., how far below the dredge does the fish community and habitat become most similar to reference reaches)?