Natural resource agencies in the eastern United States face continued pressure to develop and defend recommendations for Irving aquatic resources in warm water streams and rivers. These demands are expected to increase markedly during the next several years as many hydropower projects undergo Federal relicensing. In surveys conducted to identify the stream research and assessment needs of Southeastern State and Federal agencies (Crance 1988) and of the Southeastern field offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Henriksen 1988), the most prominent issue related to warmwater streams appeared to be streamflow regulation associated with new hydropower development and the relicensing of existing facilities. Rapidly fluctuating flows, periodic dewatering, low flows, and reduced quality and quantity of habitat were the specific effects considered to be the most pervasive and significant threats to fish in warmwater streams and rivers.