Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in mullet fish in a former ship dismantling harbour, a contaminated estuary, and nearby coastal fish farms

This study investigated the bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) toward mullet fish (Liza macrolepis) living in former PCB contaminated areas, the Ann-Ping harbour and the Er-Jen estuary, and fish farms located near the above two areas in 2003. The PCB body burdens of collected fish samples are proportional to the contamination level of their locations with the following rank order (greatest to least) from the Er-Jen estuary, the Ann-Ping harbour to the fish farms. Concentration of PCBs of the estuarine mullet has been approximately decreased to one-half of the peak concentration of the 1990s. Although the concentration of PCBs in farmed fish inhabiting near the two contaminated areas was greater than the average of those of fish from local fish markets in Taiwan, no particularly great contamination level was observed in their bodies. Using the less chlorinated PCB fraction (triCB + tetraCB)/total PCBs as the indicator of the origins of PCBs, fish near former contaminated areas had greater body burdens of the more chlorinated PCB congeners, while the farmed fish exhibited a PCB pattern more like that known to originate from air–water exchange with less chlorinated PCBs predominating. Although the PCB contamination has been stopped for a decade, the residual contaminants, supposedly existing in soil and sediments, still contribute to the body burden of fish residing in the estuary and the harbour.     

Concentrations of heavy metals in sediment and organisms during a harmful algal bloom (HAB) at Kun Kaak Bay, Sonora, Mexico

In early April 2003, fishermen from Kino Bay Sonora alerted us about a massive die-off of fish and mollusks occurring at Kun Kaak Bay. Phytoplankton samples taken on 17 May 2003 reported the presence of a harmful algal bloom composed of Chatonella marina, Chatonella cf. ovata, Gymnodinium catenatum and Gymnodinium sanguineum. On 22 of May, we collected samples of water, sediment and organisms at the affected area. Physicochemical parameters and nutrients were measured in water samples from different depths. Sediment and benthic organisms were analyzed for Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Hg. We found concentrations of heavy metals higher than background levels for this area. Cadmium and Lead concentrations in sediment from the HAB area were up to 6x greater than background levels and Cd in mollusks was 8x greater than regulations allow. A relationship between elevated Cd and Pb concentrations in sediment and the survival of toxic dinoflagellates is suspected.     

Perfluorinated compounds in estuarine and coastal areas of north Bohai Sea, China

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in water, sediment, soil, and biota collected from estuarine and coastal areas of the north Bohai Sea, China, were determined by use of HPLC-MS/MS. Significant concentrations of PFCs were found in water (mean: 18.4 ng/l) and biologic samples (fish: 265 ng/g dw), while concentrations of PFCs in soils and sediments were less. The predominately detected compound was perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), with a maximum concentration of 30.9 ng/l in water and 791 ng/g dw in fish. Concentrations of PFCs were significantly greater in the Liaohe River system than other locations, which suggests point sources in this urbanized and industrialized region. PFOS concentrations in water and biota were both less than the reported threshold concentrations. Detection of PFCs at relatively great concentrations in various environmental matrices from this region suggested that further studies characterizing concentrations of PFCs, their sources and potential risk to both humans and wildlife are needed.     

Soil seed bank composition and distribution on eroded slopes in the hill‐gully Loess Plateau region (China): influence on natural vegetation colonization

On the Chinese Loess Plateau, serious slope and gully erosion have caused a decrease in soil water capacity and fertility, which has resulted in vegetation degradation and a reduction in agricultural productivity. Great efforts have been made to restore vegetation to control soil erosion, but the efficiency of artificial revegetation is not satisfactory. Natural revegetation is an alternative. However, while soil seed banks are an essential source for natural revegetation, their composition and distribution on eroded slopes remains unknown. In addition, whether or not seed loss during soil erosion limits vegetation colonization is also unknown. In this work, soil seed bank composition and distribution were studied in three situations. Specifically, three main microsites were selected as sampling plots: fish‐scale pits, as artificial deposited micro‐topography; under tussocks, as trap microsites; and open areas, as eroded areas. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–2 cm, 2–5 cm and 5–10 cm. The soil seed bank was identified using germination experiments, and a total of 34 species were identified. The dominant species in the soil seed bank were annual/biennial herbs with an average proportion more than 90% and density reaching 19,000 seeds m^‐2. The pioneer species Artemisia scoparia was especially abundant. The dominant later successional species, such as Lespedeza davurica, Artemisia giraldii, Artemisia gmelinii, Stipa bungeana and Bothriochloa ischcemum, were present in the soil at a density that ranged from 38 to 1355 seeds m^‐2. Compared with the eroded open areas, the fish‐scale pits retained a higher density of seeds, and the tussocks retained a larger number of species. However, there was no serious reduction of the soil seed bank in the erosion areas. The present study indicates that, on these eroded slopes, the soil seed bank is not the key factor limiting the colonization of natural vegetation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Re‐establishment of soil water repellency after destruction by intense burning in a Mediterranean heathland (SW Spain)

Soil water repellency has been conventionally considered as a fire‐induced effect, but an increasing number of studies have suggested that natural background repellency occurs in many soil types, and many of them have suggested that water repellency can be re‐established over time after being destroyed. An experimental fire was conducted to study changes of the soil surface during the first 18 months following intense burning. The main objectives of this paper are as follows: (1) to investigate in situ water repellency changes at three soil depths (0, 2 and 4 cm) immediately after burning; (2) to evaluate the medium‐term evolution of water repellency under field conditions; and (3) to outline the main hydrological consequences of these changes. Also, different water repellency tests (water drop penetration time, ethanol percentage test (EPT) and contact angle (CA) between water drops and the soil surface) were carried out for comparison purposes. Field experiments showed that soil water repellency was partly destroyed after intense burning. Changes were relatively strong at the soil surface, but diminished progressively with depth. Levels of water repellency were practically re‐established 18 months after burning. This suggests that water repellency in the studied area is not necessarily a consequence of fire, but can instead be a natural attribute. Finally, although limited in time, destruction of soil water repellency has important consequences for runoff flow generation and soil loss rates, and, indirectly, for water quality. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三峡库区汉丰湖鱼类群落结构的季节变化

为了解汉丰湖鱼类群落结构的季节变化特征,以便为汉丰湖鱼类资源的合理利用及保护提供理论依据,于2014年12月、2015年4、7和10月按季度共4次对汉丰湖鱼类群落结构进行调查与分析.结果表明:共采集到鱼类8538尾,38种,隶属于5目9科32属;其中,鲤形目鱼类有28种,占总物种数的73.68%.鱼类组成以湖泊定居性种类为主,瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)、蛇鮈(Saurogobio dabryi)、银鮈(Squalidus argentatus)、鲫(Carassius auratus)、光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio)和贝氏(Hemiculter bleekeri)为汉丰湖的重要优势种,占总尾数的67.45%.汉丰湖鱼类群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielous均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数在冬季最高,而Pielous均匀度指数在不同季节相对稳定.Jaccard群落相似性指数较高,季节间种类相似度较高.鱼类群落稳定性分析表明,冬季稳定性最高,其次为春季,夏季稳定性最低.湖泊生境尤其是水位的变化对汉丰湖鱼类群落结构影响明显.     

Estimating background and threshold nitrate concentrations using probability graphs

Because of the ubiquitous nature of anthropogenic nitrate (NO3(-)) in many parts of the world, determining background concentrations of NO3(-) in shallow ground water from natural sources is probably impossible in most environments. Present-day background must now include diffuse sources of NO3(-) such as disruption of soils and oxidation of organic matter, and atmospheric inputs from products of combustion and evaporation of ammonia from fertilizer and livestock waste. Anomalies can be defined as NO3(-) derived from nitrogen (N) inputs to the environment from anthropogenic activities, including synthetic fertilizers, livestock waste, and septic effluent. Cumulative probability graphs were used to identify threshold concentrations separating background and anomalous NO(3)-N concentrations and to assist in the determination of sources of N contamination for 232 spring water samples and 200 well water samples from karst aquifers. Thresholds were 0.4, 2.5, and 6.7 mg/L for spring water samples, and 0.1, 2.1, and 17 mg/L for well water samples. The 0.4 and 0.1 mg/L values are assumed to represent thresholds for present-day precipitation. Thresholds at 2.5 and 2.1 mg/L are interpreted to represent present-day background concentrations of NO(3)-N. The population of spring water samples with concentrations between 2.5 and 6.7 mg/L represents an amalgam of all sources of NO3(-) in the ground water basins that feed each spring; concentrations > 6.7 mg/L were typically samples collected soon after springtime application of synthetic fertilizer. The 17 mg/L threshold (adjusted to 15 mg/L) for well water samples is interpreted as the level above which livestock wastes dominate the N sources.     

The distribution of deuterium and O in dry soils : 1. Theory

A mathematical model is developed describing the shape of H₂¹⁸O and HDO depth profiles which result from evaporation of water from dry soil under quasi-steady state conditions. Typically, isotope concentrations rise from a minimum at the soil surface to a maximum a short distance beneath the surface, and then decrease approximately exponentially to constant concentrations at depth. The model predicts that for isothermal conditions, the slope of the relationship between ¹⁸O and deuterium δ-values of samples of the soil water will be 30% lower for a dry soil than for a wet soil evaporating under the same conditions. It is concluded that low slopes should be indicative of soil water or groundwater recharged under arid or semi-arid conditions. Using the shape of the ¹⁸O and deuterium profiles, three independent methods for estimating evaporation for dry soils are developed. When water loss occurs by both transpiration and evaporation, the slope of the ¹⁸O-D relationship should be slightly lower than that for a site where water loss occurs by evaporation alone.     

鄱阳湖湿地土壤中Fe、Mn的迁移特征及其与水位周期变动的关系

对鄱阳湖地区蚌湖水下沉积物、滩地草甸土柱状样品不同深度土壤的酸度、氧化还原电位进行了现场测定;对剖面各层次的Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ总量,还原性Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ含量,以及有机质等进行了分析。实验表明：鄱阳湖湿地土壤中Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ有其独特的分布规律和迁移特征。元素Ｆｅ仅在水土界面轻微富集,Ｍｎ则向界面和深层双向富集;还原性Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ受氧化还原边界层的控制呈垂向分布。另外,元素Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ的水平迁移与水位变动相关,退水时Ｆｅ     

Estimation of areal specific yield in sands using the central limit theorem

A new approach is demonstrated that permits a reliable estimate of specific yield using published values of the van Genuchten water retention parameters and effective grain sizes and the measured effective grain sizes of soil samples. The specific yield distribution of the soil texture was computed using the published values of the van Genuchten parameters. The specific yield values and the published values of effective grain sizes were then used to construct a specific yield–effective grain size curve, which estimates the ‘point’ specific yield of the soil samples. Applying the central limit theorem, the point specific yields could be transformed into an ‘areal’ specific yield for a study area. Compared with other commonly used approaches, the present procedure requires relatively low computational efforts and readily obtainable data. It is cost effective and does not depend on soil texture classification. More importantly, it incorporates the depth to water table and the variations in grain sizes inherent in natural soil conditions in the estimation. The approach developed was applied for estimating the specific yield of an unconfined sandy aquifer created by land reclamation in the equatorial region. The values obtained were compared with field measurements and the typical ranges of specific yield from the literature. Instead of a single estimate of the specific yield, the method yields a confidence interval with a high confidence level of 95% and with a narrower range than the typical ranges from the literature. In addition, the estimated values are close to the field measurements; hence, the procedure provides a cost‐effective alternative to field measurement. The applicability of the present approach could be extended to sites with heterogeneity in the horizontal direction. Nevertheless, the applicability of the present approach for layered soil profiles requires further evaluations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“堑秋湖”围堤改变鄱阳湖洲滩湿地土壤碳循环过程

水文节律是影响湖泊湿地土壤碳循环的重要因素."堑秋湖"是鄱阳湖传统的渔业生产方式,对鄱阳湖碟形湖水文节律具有显著影响.因此,本文研究了"堑秋湖"对鄱阳湖洲滩土壤碳循环的影响.结果表明,"堑秋湖"围堤内外洲滩土壤总有机碳含量无显著差异,但围堤内土壤轻组有机碳含量比围堤外低35.03%.围堤内土壤有机碳(SOC)矿化速率明显高于围堤外.围堤内SOC矿化的平均Q10为2.72,比围堤外低4.83%,但两者SOC矿化的水分敏感性没有显著差异.围堤内外SOC矿化速率分别与土壤可溶性有机碳和土壤轻组氮含量相关关系最为显著.综上所述,"堑秋湖"围堤已经改变了鄱阳湖洲滩的土壤碳循环过程.模拟湖泊湿地土壤碳循环时需要充分考虑当地渔业生产的影响.     

Geochemical characteristics of deposits from the 2011 Tohoku‐oki tsunami at Hasunuma,Kujukuri coastal plain,Japan

We examined the geochemical characteristics and temporal changes of deposits associated with the 2011 Tohoku‐oki tsunami. Stable carbon isotope ratios, biomarkers, and water‐leachable ions were measured in a sandy tsunami deposit and associated soils sampled at Hasunuma, Kujukuri coastal plain, Japan, in 2011 and 2014. At this site, the 2011 tsunami formed a 10–30 cm ‐thick layer of very fine to medium sand. The tsunami deposit was organic‐poor, and no samples contained any detectable biomarkers of either terrigenous or marine origin. In the underlying soil, we identified hydrocarbons and sterols derived from terrestrial plants, but detected no biomarkers of marine origin. In the samples collected in 2011, concentrations of tsunami‐derived water‐leachable ions were highest in the soil immediately beneath the tsunami deposit and then decreased gradually with depth. Because of its finer texture and higher organic content, the soil has a higher water‐holding capacity than the sandy tsunami deposit. This distribution suggests that ions derived from the tsunami quickly penetrated the sand layer and became concentrated in the underlying soil. In the samples collected in 2014, concentrations of water‐leachable ions were very low in both soil and sand. We attribute the decrease in ion concentrations to post‐tsunami rainfall, seepage, and seasonal changes in groundwater level. Although water‐leachable ions derived from seawater were concentrated in the soil beneath the tsunami deposit following the tsunami inundation, they were not retained for more than a few years. To elucidate the behavior of geochemical characteristics associated with tsunamis, further research on organic‐rich muddy deposits (muddy tsunami deposits and soils beneath sandy tsunami deposits) as well as sandy tsunami deposits is required.     

Isotopic fractionation induced by a surface effect influences the estimation of the hydrological process of topsoil

Isotopic heterogeneity in soil water has hindered the application of isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) in soil water dynamics. This heterogeneity has been suggested to be caused by soil properties such as organic matter (OM) and clay content. However, this is yet to be verified in field soil. We sampled the organic layer (O-horizon soil) with highly decomposed organic material and the A-horizon soil in western Sichuan, China, and equilibrated these samples with vapour created by unconfined labelling water. The relationship between soil properties and isotopic fractionation (ε_T/U) between unconfined water and the total soil water was used to determine the line-conditioned excess (lc-excess) and source rain of A-horizon field soil by removing the influence of confined water. Equilibration experiments demonstrated a significant isotopic difference between the ε_T/U levels in the A-horizon and O-horizon soils, indicating that OM plays an important role in isotopic fractionation. In field samples, the lc-excess of the unconfined A-horizon water was, on an average, 2.5‰ higher than that of bulk soil water. The average offsets between the annual rain and the estimated source rain of soil water decreased by 5.0 and 0.5‰ for hydrogen and oxygen after removing the influence of confined water. Isotopic heterogeneity should not be ignored while examining the evaporation of soil water, soil source rain, and hence the recent ‘two water worlds’ hypothesis, which is especially true for cases in which the soils contain high levels of OM.     

Fate of Pesticides and Their Transformation Products: First Flush Effects in a Semi‐Arid Catchment

Although it is known for many years, that transformation products (TPs) of pesticides are often more persistent, mobile, and sometimes more toxic than the parent compound, former catchment scale studies of substance release and flushing effects focused only on the parent compound. In this study, four river points were sampled in the Hula Valley, Israel, and samples were analyzed in the lab for chlorpyrifos (CP) and endosulfan residues (including transformation products; TPs). Sampling results of the first rainfall in autumn 2009 identified a strong release of most substances to the rivers. First flush effects of these substances were assessed regarding the risk for drinking water supply and ecology, like fresh water invertebrates and fish. Although, these substances were found in Jordan River water during the first significant rainfall the observed levels are below international drinking water guideline values with no adverse effects on human health in the region. However, the observed CP and chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO) levels are above the acute toxicity for fresh water invertebrates and fish. The study shows that the Hula Valley was an important source of pesticides and TPs at the Upper Jordan River basin and that substance flushing is extremely important for pesticides‐monitoring campaigns.     

贵州草海湿地不同水位梯度沉积物中汞、砷形态分布及风险评价

通过改进Tessier连续提取法对贵州草海黑颈鹤栖息地不同水位梯度下沉积物汞(Hg)、砷(As)形态及生态风险进行了研究.结果表明,草海湿地沉积物中Hg含量在0.45～1.51-mg/kg之间,超过国家土壤环境质量农用地土壤风险管控标准;形态组成上,残渣态汞(Res-Hg)>有机结合态汞(Org-Hg)>碳酸盐结合态(Car-Hg)>铁锰氧化态(Fe-O-Hg)>可交换态(Ex-Hg),不同水位梯度下含量和赋存形态在不同区域不一致.As含量在16.4～23.8-mg/kg之间,形态依次为残渣态砷(Res-As)>有机结合态砷(Org-As)>铁锰氧化态砷(Fe-O-As)>碳酸盐结合态砷(Car-As)>可交换态砷(Ex-As).-As含量与贵州省土壤背景值持平,随着水位梯度的抬升,其总量呈增加趋势,残渣态占比逐步增多,性质逐渐稳定.采用地积累指数(I_geo)、潜在生态风险指数(E_rⁱ)、风险评价编码法(RAC)对Hg、As的危害程度进行分析表明,基于草海较高Hg环境背景值...     

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Metals in Richards Bay Harbour (RBH), South Africa

Little data are available on the level of metals in biotic and abiotic components at Richards Bay Harbour (RBH). The most recent records are from a survey done around the time of the construction of the harbour in 1976. Industrial and human activities in and around this area have increased dramatically in the last 20 years, the impact of which remains unknown. The aim of this study is to establish spatial and temporal variations in metals in RBH through a seasonal biomonitoring programme.

Biotic (mussels and fish) and abiotic (sediments and water) samples were collected from each of the eleven sites on a seasonal basis. Samples were wet digested using a two to one ratio of nitric to perchloric acid. Samples were filtered and analysed for aluminium, chromium and iron using a Varian SpectrAA 50B spectrophotometer.

Aluminium, chromium and iron concentrations in water, sediments and biota showed spatial and temporal variations. Concentrations of iron in sediment samples were found to be higher than concentrations recorded in previous studies.     

Meltwater erosion process of frozen soil as affected by thawed depth under concentrated flow in high altitude and cold regions

Changes in thawed depth of frozen soil caused by diurnal and seasonal temperature fluctuations are commonly found in high altitude and latitude regions of the world. These changes significantly influence hydrologic and erosion processes. Experimental data are necessary to improve the understanding and modeling of the phenomenon. Laboratory experiments were conducted in Beijing to assess the impacts of thawed soil depth, slope gradient, and flow rate on soil erosion by concentrated meltwater flow over an underlying frozen soil layer. Soil samples from watershed were filled in flumes, saturated before being frozen. After the soil was completely frozen, flumes were taken out of storage to thaw the frozen soil from top to the designed depths. Meltwater flow was simulated using a tank filled with water and icecubes at approximately 0°C. The erosion experiments involved four thawed soil depths of 1, 2, 5, and 10 cm; three slope gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15°; and three flow rates of 1, 2, and 4 l/min; and seven rill lengths of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 m. Sediment‐laden water samples were collected at the lower end of the flume for determination of sediment concentration. The results showed that sediment concentration increased exponentially with rill length to approach a maximum value. The sediment concentrations were closely correlated with thawed soil depth, flow rate, and slope gradient. Shallower thawed depths delivered more sediments than deeper thawed depths. Slope gradient was the primary factor responsible for severe erosion. The effect of flow rate on sediment concentration which decreased with increasing slope gradient, was not as significant as that of slope gradient. Results from these experiments are useful for understanding the effect of thawed soil depth on erosion process in thawed soils subject to freezing and for estimating erosion model parameters. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In Situ Measurement of Electro-Osmotic Fluxes and Conductivity Using Single Wellbore Tracer Tests

Electro-osmosis (EO), the movement of water through porous media in response to an electric field, offers a means for extracting contaminated ground water from fine-grained sediments, such as clays, that are not easily amenable to conventional pump-and-treat approaches. The EO-induced water flux is proportional to the voltage gradient in a manner analogous to the flux dependence on the hydraulic gradient under Darcy's law. The proportionality constant, the soil electro-osmotic conductivity or k_eo, is most easily measured in soil cores using bench-top tests, where flow is one-dimensional and interfering effects attributable to Darcy's law can be directly accounted for. In contrast, quantification of EO fluxes and k_eo in the field under deployment conditions can be difficult because electrodes are placed in ground water wells that may be screened across a heterogeneous mixture of lithologies. As a result, EO-induced water fluxes constitute an approximate radial flow system that is superimposed upon a Darcy flow regime through permeable pathways that may or may not be coupled with hydraulic head differences created by the EO-induced water fluxes. A single well comparative tracer test, which indirectly measures EO fluxes by comparing wellbore tracer dilution rates between background and EO-induced water fluxes, may provide a means for routinely quantifying the efficacy of EO systems in such settings. EO fluxes measured in field tests through this technique at a ground water contamination site were used to estimate a mean k_eo value through a semianalytic line source model of the electric field. The resulting estimate agrees well with values reported in the literature and with values obtained with bench-top tests conducted on a soil core collected in the test area.     

Pesticide residues in ground water of the San Joaquin Valley, California

A regional assessment of non-point-source contamination of pesticide residues in ground water was made of the San Joaquin Valley, an intensively farmed and irrigated structural trough in central California. About 10% of the total pesticide use in the USA is in the San Joaquin Valley. Pesticides detected include atrazine, bromacil, 2.4-DP, diazinon, dibromochloropropane, 1,2-dibromoethane, dicamba, 1,2-dichloropropane, diuron, prometon, prometryn, propazine and simazine. All are soil applied except diazinon.

Pesticide leaching is dependent on use patterns, soil texture, total organic carbon in soil, pesticide half-life and depth to water table. Leaching is enhanced by flood-irrigation methods except where the pesticide is foliar applied such as diazinon. Soils in the western San Joaquin Valley are fine grained and are derived primarily from marine shales of the Coast Ranges. Although shallow ground water is present, the fewest number of pesticides were detected in this region. The fine-grained soil inhibits pesticide leaching because of either low vertical permeability or high surface area; both enhance adsorption on to solid phases. Soils of the valley floor tend to be fine grained and have low vertical permeability. Soils in the eastern part of the valley are coarse grained with low total organic carbon and are derived from Sierra Nevada granites. Most pesticide leaching is in these alluvial soils, particularly in areas where depth to ground water is less than 30m. The areas currently most susceptible to pesticide leaching are eastern Fresno and Tulare Counties.

Tritium in water molecules is an indicator of aquifer recharge with water of recent origin. Pesticide residues transported as dissolved species were not detected in non-tritiated water. Although pesticides were not detected in all samples containing high tritium, these samples are indicative of the presence of recharge water that interacted with agricultural soils.     

Hydraulic modelling of fish habitat in urban rivers during high flows

In urban rivers, flow regime and channel morphology are the drivers of physical habitat quality for aquatic species. Peak discharges are increased at high flows as a result of impermeable catchments and channel engineering for flood protection schemes. Hazardous conditions and flashy hydrographs mean that measurement of velocities at high flows is a difficult task. This research uses a three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D‐CFD) model to simulate hydraulic patterns in two urban river channels. A 3D‐CFD code, called SSIIM, was used to simulate hydraulic conditions in two engineered river reaches of the River Tame, Birmingham, UK. These two sites represent channels with different levels of engineering. Models were calibrated and tested using field measurements. Results show that modelled water surface levels and velocity profiles are well simulated. Calibrated roughness heights are compared with those derived from field measurement of sediment size. Numerical experiments are used to assess the relationship between grid resolution in the vertical dimension and the form of the modelled velocity profiles. Biologists have used laboratory experiments to determine maximum sustainable swimming speeds (MSSS) of fish, often in order to assess what level of a particular pollutant may be tolerable. In this work, simulations of high‐flow hydraulic patterns are used to compare velocity patterns with fish MSSS. Results show that when the water levels rise to fill the first channel of the two‐stage channels at the sites, which occurred 16 times in 2000, MSSS are surpassed in the majority of available habitat, suggesting that excessive velocities at high flows are one factor that limits fish habitat. A comparison between the two reaches shows that there is less available habitat in the more modified reach. Conclusions suggest that an approach that integrates water quality issues and physical channel characteristics must be taken in river rehabilitation schemes, as improvements to water quality alone may not be sufficient to improve habitat quality to the desired level. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.