diff --git a/HSP2/PLANK_Class.py b/HSP2/PLANK_Class.py
index 3eed8694..e7164516 100644
--- a/HSP2/PLANK_Class.py
+++ b/HSP2/PLANK_Class.py
@@ -652,6 +652,9 @@ def simulate(self, tw, phval, co2, tss, OXRX, NUTRX, iphyto, izoo, iorn, iorp, i
 				else:                      # use full depth and velocity
 					self.balvel = avvele
 					self.baldep = avdepe
+			else:
+				self.balvel = 0.0
+				self.baldep = 0.0
 
 			# calculate solar radiation absorbed; solrad is the solar radiation at gage,
 			# corrected for location of reach; 0.97 accounts for surface reflection
@@ -1253,6 +1256,11 @@ def litrch(inlit, extb, extcla, extsed, avdepe, baldep, PHYFG, BALFG):
 		''' calculate light correction factor to algal growth (cflit); 
 		determine amount of light available to phytoplankton and benthic algae'''
 		ln01 = 4.60517   # minus natural log 0.01
+
+		cflit  = 0.0
+		phylit = 0.0
+		ballit = 0.0
+
 		if inlit > 0.0:
 			# calculate extinction of light based on the base extinction
 			# coefficient of the water incremented by self-shading effects
@@ -1290,10 +1298,10 @@ def litrch(inlit, extb, extcla, extsed, avdepe, baldep, PHYFG, BALFG):
 				ballit = inlit * exp(-extco * baldep)
 				if ballit < 0.0001:
 					ballit = 0.0
+
 		else:   # there is no incident solar radiation; algal growth cannot occur
-			cflit  = 0.0
-			phylit = 0.0
-			ballit = 0.0
+			pass
+
 		return phylit, ballit, cflit
 
 	@staticmethod
diff --git a/HSP2/RQUAL_Class.py b/HSP2/RQUAL_Class.py
index 04fbfdb6..02f677a4 100644
--- a/HSP2/RQUAL_Class.py
+++ b/HSP2/RQUAL_Class.py
@@ -750,9 +750,10 @@ def simulate(self, ts):
 
 					self.PHYTO[loop] = self.PLANK.phyto
 					self.ZOO[loop] = self.PLANK.zoo
-					self.BENAL1[loop] = self.PLANK.benal[0]
-					self.TBENAL1[loop] = self.PLANK.tbenal[1]
-					self.TBENAL2[loop] = self.PLANK.tbenal[2]
+					if self.PLANK.BALFG:
+						self.BENAL1[loop] = self.PLANK.benal[0]
+						self.TBENAL1[loop] = self.PLANK.tbenal[1]
+						self.TBENAL2[loop] = self.PLANK.tbenal[2]
 					self.PHYCLA[loop] = self.PLANK.phycla
 
 					self.ORN[loop] = self.PLANK.orn