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Alafia River Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...

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Period of Record Median Daily <strong>Flows</strong> for<br />

<strong>Alafia</strong> <strong>River</strong> at Lithia, FL<br />

Flow (cfs)<br />

600<br />

500<br />

400<br />

300<br />

200<br />

100<br />

0<br />

B<br />

B<br />

B<br />

L<br />

L<br />

L<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

B<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

L<br />

K<br />

K<br />

K<br />

O<br />

2<br />

1<br />

2<br />

C<br />

K<br />

3<br />

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350<br />

Day of Year (Julian Date)<br />

Figure 1-1. Building blocks developed for a building block approach to the development of<br />

minimum flows. Blocks corresponding to low (Block 1), medium (Block 2) <strong>and</strong> high (Block 3)<br />

flows are shown along with period of record median daily flows for the <strong>Alafia</strong> <strong>River</strong> at Lithia<br />

gage.<br />

1.6 <strong>Flows</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Levels</strong><br />

Although somewhat semantic, there is a distinction between flows, levels <strong>and</strong><br />

volumes that should be appreciated. All terms apply to the setting of “minimum<br />

flows” for flowing (lotic) waters. The term “flow” may most legitimately equate to<br />

water velocity; which is typically measured by a flow meter. A certain velocity of<br />

water may be required to physically move particles heavier than water; for example,<br />

periodic high flows will transport s<strong>and</strong> from upstream to downstream; higher flows<br />

will move gravel; <strong>and</strong> still higher flows will move rubble or even boulders. <strong>Flows</strong> may<br />

also serve as a cue for some organisms; for example, certain fish species search out<br />

areas of flow for reproduction <strong>and</strong> may move against flow or into areas of reduced or<br />

low flow to spawn. Certain macroinvertebrates drift or release from stream<br />

substrates in response to changes in flow. This release <strong>and</strong> drift among other things<br />

allows for colonization of downstream areas. One group of macroinvertebrates, the<br />

caddisflies, spin nets in the stream to catch organisms <strong>and</strong> detritus carried<br />

downstream, <strong>and</strong> their success in gathering/filtering prey is at least partially a<br />

function of flow. Other aquatic species have specific morphologies that allow them<br />

to inhabit <strong>and</strong> exploit specialized niches located in flowing water; their bodies may<br />

be flattened (dorsally-ventrally compressed) to allow them to live under rocks or in<br />

crevices; they may have special holdfast structures such as hooks or even secrete a<br />

glue that allows them to attach to submerged objects.<br />

1-8

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