Sometimes its not enough to know what you presently have, but instead what you might have -- hence hydrologic and ecological modeling.  We have applied various routines of HEC Model developed by the Army Corps to model stream hydrology, and consequent changes to riparian, fishery and wildlife habitats.  Detailed maps of predicted riparian vegetation types for several different streamflow scenarios were prepared for 53 linear miles of the lower Owens River and 10 linear miles of Owens Gorge.  Ecological classifications typically serve as the basis for hydrologic and ecological modeling.

• Lower Owens River Project (LORP), delineation, prediction, and assessment of wetland/riparian resources.  2004.  Delineated jurisdictional water/wetlands for 30,476 acres that may be affected by rewatering of the lower Owens River in California .  Also predicted future riparian/wetland vegetation types and  completed hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessments for both existing and predicted conditions for 53 miles of river corridor.  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.   See abstract.

• Lower Owens River Project (LORP) 1991 predictions.  2004.  Predicted the area of wetland/water resources that would result from the LORP, as envisioned and analyzed in a 1991 EIR, and compared it to existing (2000) conditions and to predicted conditions, as envisioned and analyzed in a 2004 EIR.  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.

• Predicted riparian vegetation for 7 streamflow scenarios, Owens River Gorge, California.  2000.  Predicted the distribution of riparian vegetation types for about 10 linear miles of the Owens River that was historically dewatered.  Distributions were based on cross-section elevation surveys, HEC2 modeling and mapping of  landforms and existing vegetation types in the canyon bottom.  Predicted riparian vegetation type distributions were were used to assess wildlife and fisheries values for each flow scenario.  Results were used to select optimal flows for varied uses.  Conducted for Ecosystems Sciences, Boise, ID.

• Inventory of existing riverine/riparian habitat and projection of potential riverine riparian habitat for six streamflow scenarios, lower Owens River, California.  1996.  Predicted the distribution of riparian vegetation types for about 60 linear miles of the Owens River that is essentially dewatered.   Predictions were based on cross-section elevation surveys, HEC2 modeling and mapping of  landforms and vegetation types along the stream corridor. Results were used to assess wildlife and fishery values. Conducted for Don Chapman Consultants, Boise, ID.

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