Heightened public awareness of the effects of dams on aquatic biodiversity and on ecosystem function has made rehabilitation of regulated rivers a management and research priority. Impacts Large fluctuations in discharge over short time period can flush organisms downstream or strand them in dewatered areas. Lack of seasonality in streamflow water temperatures can make life too unpredictable for many organisms.
Dams also create barriers to fish migration.
Hydrology Discharge regime - highly variable, daily and seasonal fluctuations are generally outside the realm experienced by natural streams. Instream habitat Large substrate with abundant algae and aquatic plant growth. Substrate particles can be embedded into the stream bed by fine sediment.