A Review of “Upper Peace River: An Analysis of Minimum Flows and Levels”

This is a summary of the Scientific Peer Review Panel's evaluation of the scientific and technical data, assumptions, and methodologies used by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in the development of its proposed minimum flows and minimum levels (MLFs) for the Upper Peace River. To the best of its abilities, the Peer Review Panel has not only attempted to provide a critical review of the methods, data, and conclusions of the District, but has suggested a number of improvements and guidelines for future decisions on the restoration or rehabilitation of the Upper Peace River. We consider the proposed MLFs to be a good first step in the management process but can not be the only step. The resource management goals for the Upper Peace River are to: • Maintain minimum depths for fish passage and canoeing in the upper river • Maintain depths above inflection point in the wetted perimeter of the stream bottom • Inundate woody habitats in the stream channel • Meet the hydrologic requirements of floodplain biological communities. These goals represent a reasonable subset of potential goals for an improved biotic community in the degraded upper basin. The rationale for choosing these goals is clearly presented and scientifically justified. In general, the wetted perimeter approach does an adequate job to predict levels that will address the management goals, as described. As an initial step, maintaining fish passage, that is, the connectivity of the system, is a necessary goal. The assumption of a desired elevation of the channel at its deepest point being 0.6 feet above minimum elevation for fish passage is reasonable. The application of the HEC-RAS model to generate a wetted perimeter versus flow plot for each transect also is a justifiable scientific approach. In order to complete an effective program of rehabilitation of the upper Peace River, we suggest that the current management goals may not adequately address the linkages between instream flow-related (hydraulic) habitat requirements of resident biota and discharge conditions over the range of life-stages and functions of various species within the community. Future efforts to enhance the integrity of the upper Peace River may require that these linkages be established. We understand the constraints placed upon the current study and our comments are provided to encourage the District to frequently revisit this study and to view the establishment of MLFs and rehabilitation goals as a dynamic process that results in improved …