Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5111
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5111
Fish Communities and Related Environmental Conditions of the Lower Boise River,
Southwestern Idaho, 1974-2004
Prepared in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
By Dorene E. MacCoy
Table of Contents
Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations
Abstract
Introduction
Data Compilation and Analysis
Fish Communities and Related Environmental
Conditions
Data Limitations and Potential Future
Investigations
Summary
Acknowledgments
References Cited
Appendix A. Relative percentage
of abundance of fish species in the lower Boise River, Idaho
Figures
Figure 1. Location of study area in
the lower Boise River Basin, southwestern Idaho.
Figure 2. Mean annual and mean monthly
discharge rates for the Boise River recorded at the U.S. Geological Survey Glenwood
Bridge near Boise, Idaho (13206000) and near Parma, Idaho (13213000) gaging
stations.
Figure 3. Diversions, drains, and tributaries
along the Boise River from Lucky Peak Lake to the Snake River, southwestern
Idaho.
Figure 4. Mean monthly discharge for
December and August recorded during pre- (1895–1916) and post-dam (1957–2002)
periods at the U.S. Geological Survey Boise River near Boise gaging station
(13202000), southwestern Idaho.
Figure 5. Mountain whitefish (Prosopium
williamsoni).
Figure 6. Brown trout (Salmo trutta).
Figure 7. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss).
Figure 8. Shorthead sculpin (Cottus
confusus) and mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi).
Figure 9. Largescale sucker (Catostomus
macrocheilus).
Figure 10. Bridgelip sucker (Catostomus
columbianus).
Figure 11. Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus
oregonensis).
Figure 12. Smallmouth bass (Micropterus
dolomieu).
Figure 13. Fish index of biological
integrity scores by year calculated for low-flow sampling events (November to
April) in seven reaches of the lower Boise River, 1988–2003.
Figure 14. Percentages of invertivores
and piscivores versus percentages of omnivores and herbivores derived from 1996
fish collections in the lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho.
Figure 15. Changes in the occurrence
of sculpin upstream and downstream of Lander Wastewater Treatment Facility,
lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 1988–2003.
Figure 16. Comparison of relative
weight equations calculated for mountain whitefish collected from the lower
Boise River with the North American standard weight equation for mountain whitefish
and measurements from least-disturbed rivers in southern Idaho.
Figure 17. Mountain whitefish length
and weight relations for the lower Boise River and least-disturbed sites in
southern Idaho, 1988–2004.
Tables
Table 1. Summary of U.S. Geological
Survey and Idaho Department of Fish and Game sampling of fish communities in
the lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 1974 to 2004.
Table 2. Fish sampling reach locations,
lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 1988–2004.
Table 3. Habitat features measured for
each subbasin of the historic (1867–1868) and recent (1994–2002), lower Boise
River, southwestern Idaho.
Table 4. Median, minimum, and maximum
values of instantaneous water-quality measurements and select constituent concentrations
from sites on the lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 1994–2002.
Table 5. Occurrence of fish species
in the lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 1988–2004.
Table 6. Selected metrics and Index
of Biological Integrity scores calculated for fish samples collected during
low-flow periods (November to April) from the lower Boise River and least disturbed
sites in southwestern Idaho.
Table 7. Subbasin areas, selected land-use
metrics, and fish Index of Biotic Integrity scores for selected sampling events
on the lower Boise River, southwestern Idaho, 2000–03.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, D.E. MacCoy, (208) 387-1354.
For more information about USGS activities in Idaho, visit the USGS
Idaho Water Science Center home page.
U.S.
Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological
Survey
