Dam removal effects on fluvial geomorphology and fish populations, and diet of catostomids in the Pine River, Michigan (Michigan)

During the staged removal of Stronach Dam, sediment fill incision occurred throughout the entire former impoundment, and sediment deposition and streambed aggradation occurred downstream of the dam. These processes caused changes in stream width, water depth, gradient, water velocity, and streambed subtrate size. Upstream of the dam, these habitat changes seemed to benefit brown trout (Salmo trutta), adversely affect white suckers ( Catostomus commersoni), and had less influence on other species. Downstream of the dam, the length distributions of brown trout, white suckers, and shorthead redhorse suckers (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) shifted to smaller individuals. Fish passage was still restricted during this study, benefits of defragmenting habitat are not yet known.; A diet study of white suckers, shorthead redhorse suckers and silver redhorse suckers (Moxostoma anisurum) showed that these species had very similar diets, comprised mainly of immature chironomids. The diets of these catostomids were very different from the diets of brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout from the Pine River, suggesting competition with trout is unlikely following full dam removal.