Papenfuss, Jason2016-04-142016-04-142015-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/178920University of Minnesota M.S. thesis.August 2015. Major: Conservation Biology. Advisor: Paul Venturelli. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 65 pages.The Namakan Reservoir, located on the Minnesota-Ontario border, has been successively managed under two water-level management policies (‘rule curves’) in recent decades. To compare the effects of the rule curves on walleye spawning, I modeled wave energy, ice scour, and habitat availability at 44 spawning locations. Wave energy increased (18% for observed water levels, 6% for modeled water levels) and ice scour decreased 11% (both P < 0.01) over spawning habitat during the most recent rule curve. Observed water level data suggested available spawning habitat on Lake Kabetogama increased 95% (P < 0.01), but availability on Namakan and Sand Point Lakes was unaffected. However, when controlling for weather events, habitat availability increased significantly (Kabetogama = 179%, Namakan = 72%, Sand Point = 93%, P < 0.01) on all three lakes. These findings suggest that the most recent rule curve is likely to improve reproductive success for walleye in the reservoir.enFisheriesNamakanReservoirsSpawning habitatWalleyeWater levelsThesis or Dissertation