Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation.

Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation.
nutrient cycling ELOHA: A New Framework for Determining and Managing Environmental Flows Over Large Regions Dr. Eloise Kendy Director, Environmental Flows Program The Nature Conservancy March 2009 Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIFORNIA, USA
Healthy ecosystems have evolved in response to natural flow variations. TRINITY RIVER, CALIFORNIA, USA Freshwater biodiversity has evolved in response to and is sustained by the complex natural variations in water flow that occur seasonally, yearly and over the course of many years. The natural, seasonal patterns of rising and falling water levels in freshwater systems shape aquatic and riparian habitats, provide cues for migration and spawning, distribute seeds and foster their growth, and enable rivers and lakes to function properly. Altering the natural flow pattern – by damming, diverting, channelizing water – takes a serious toll on the plants and animals that depend on it. If natural patterns and volumes of water flow are altered too greatly, freshwater ecosystems and species suffer. 90% of Trinity River in California flow diverted for Central Valley Project irrigation. Now the Trinity is a fast-flowing, uniform channel. Single-age cottonwood stands, declining salmon populations (1/5 previous) are indicators of hydrologic alteration. FLOW IS THE MASTER VARIABLE Trinity River details Oct-Jan: heavy rains; flashy; recession to baseflow. Jan-Feb: snow Early spring: snow accumulation Mar-June: snowpack melts. Triggers cottonwoods to disperse seeds in late May and early June to coincide w/ natural recession. Carries young chinook salmon to the ocean. High flows move sediment, shape channel, form key habitat features such as riffles, pools, gravel bars, islands. Scours gravels clean for salmon fry to occupy. Summer: recession, baseflow. Riparian plant species such as willow disperse seeds and grow; without flood, these species have encroached on the river, narrowing it.

Water for People, Water for Nature
Environmental Flow: The flow of water in a natural river or lake that sustains healthy ecosystems and the goods and services that humans derive from them. Water for People, Water for Nature One of many definitions of Environmental Flows. Key point: water for people, water for nature. Native species need natural flow patterns to flourish; too much flow alteration by humans has real impacts on biodiversity. But how much is “too much”? Increasingly, scientists are able to determine how much alteration of natural water flows is too much. The science of “environmental flows” determines the quantity and timing of water flows required to maintain the components, functions, processes, and resilience of aquatic ecosystems which provide goods and services to people. By inference, determining environmental flows also determines the quantity and timing of flows that are available for humans to alter or divert safely, without harming aquatic ecosystems. It is this win-win concept – water for people and water for nature – that is bringing water managers, water users, and other stakeholders together to design solutions for ecologically-sustainable water management.

Environmental Flow Ecologically defined Entire river community
Patterns of flow Three important points about environmental flows: 1. They are ecologically (or geomorphologically [habitat]) defined. They cannot be determined on the basis of hydrology alone. They are not limited in scope to single species protection, but rather consider the entire river community as a whole. Including humans! They are not just minimum flows. They are patterns of flow events, or components, defined by their magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change. The seasonal streamflow patterns shape natural habitats, provide cues for migration and spawning, distribute seeds and foster their growth, and enable rivers to function properly.

Setting Limits: Defining environmental flows
Example of an environmental flow recommendation/target/definition. Light gray indicates natural hydrograph. Dark gray indicates amount of water needed in the river at different times of year to maintain healthy ecosystem function, indicated by numbers. All of the light gray is available for withdrawal. The dark gray can also be used by humans – for example for hydropower, navigation, downstream withdrawals, and even upstream withdrawals that return to the river instead of being consumed. The challenge is to manage water resources within a basin in order to achieve all targets, including environmental flows, water use, water quality, power production, etc. simultaneously. Postel and Richter, 2003

Many rivers will require detailed, site-specific environmental flow studies, due to intense competition for their water or the need to give endangered species the special attention they deserve. But setting environmental flow standards one river at a time will never be fast enough to protect the thousands of rivers threatened with flow alteration. Even as hundreds of kilometers of rivers attain some level of protection, millions of kilometers remain vulnerable to hydrologic alteration, and developments risk an uncertain regulatory future. Leading international river scientists from these organizations came together in 2006 to address this challenge. They agreed that the scientific foundation built from site-specific e-flow assessments is now strong enough to support a rigorous approach to regional-scale e-flow assessment.

Criteria for a Regional Environmental Flow Method
Addresses many rivers simultaneously Explicitly links flow and ecology Applies across a spectrum of: Flow alteration types Data availability and scientific capacity The workshop participants cited these criteria for a regional e-flow method. ***** Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation. ***** Social and political contexts

Hydrologic Alteration
Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) Quantifies trade-offs between streamflow alteration and ecological degradation Informs the determination of environmental flow targets Integrates environmental flows into a computerized DSS Scientifically credible, site-specific methods are too expensive and time-consuming to apply to every river in a state, while simple rules of thumb like the Tenant (Montana) method or the wetted perimeter method lack scientific validity and can actually do more harm than good. (Wetted perimeter method only applies to riffle habitat, only at the reach scale, only sets minimum flow.) ELOHA -- a scientific approach for determining environmental flow needs for many rivers simulataneously over geographic areas as large as a state or country. ELOHA builds upon the wealth of knowledge gained from site-specific approaches. Based on mechanistic links between flow and ecology, which can be field tested and validated. Compared to river-by-river approaches, ELOHA promises to be highly cost effective. Pragmatic and scientifically credible. ELOHA fulfills 3 major needs of statewide water planning: Quantifies the tradeoffs between streamflow alteration and ecological degradation for every type of river in the planning region. Informs the determination of e-flow targets for every river Integrates e-flows into a computerized DSS ***** Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation. *****

Hydrologic Alteration
Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) A framework for integrating environmental flows into regional water planning and management ***** Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation. *****

Flow Alteration - Ecological Response Curve
The key to ELOHA is flow-ecology response curves, which synthesize existing hydrologic and biological databases from many rivers within a region for different types of rivers found within a region. These flow-ecology curves correlate ecological condition, which cannot be managed directly, to streamflow conditions, which can be managed through water-use policies. More on flow-ecology curves later. But first, how do we get there?

SCIENTIFIC PROCESS SOCIAL PROCESS Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation
Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices This flow chart depicts the entire ELOHA framework. Note the three concurrent processes: 1. Scientific process a. Hydrology b. Ecology 2. Social process For the rest of the presentation, we’ll walk through each step. Start with Hydrologic Foundation SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Hydrologic Foundations
Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool Colorado DSS, Watershed Flow Evaluation Tool CALSIM, Sacramento Ecological Flows Tool Virginia’s OASIS, HSPF Texas Water Availability Model (WAM) Examples of Hydrologic Foundations Michigan included e-flows from the beginning TNC has worked with Colorado and California to merge eflows into existing models like CDSS and CalSim Texas WAM and Virginia’s OASIS, HSPF don’t yet include e-flows, but they are primed to do so. Texas seems to be going down that path because they’re converting it from monthly to daily, which would make it the natural tool for integrating results of ongoing statewide e-flows determination into water allocation program. TNC is working with Virginia to use existing models to calculate flow alteration, and then use that to determine eflows, and then feed the eflows back into the models to use as permitting tools Border photos remind us that these tools are used to integrate all of our water resource goals. There is a modern consensus that we have to do this! ***** Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation. *****

developed-condition hydrographs
Step 1 Streamflow database Hydrologic Foundation Measured baseline hydrographs Measured developed-condition hydrographs Basin characteristics, climate database Hydrologic model Water use database Baseline hydrographs for all control points Developed-condition hydrographs for all control points The step numbers at top left of this and subsequent slides correspond to the steps described in the ELOHA Fact Sheet and Poff et al (2009). Describe hydrologic foundation (Click) Use baseline hydrographs to develop river classification River classification

MICHIGAN, USA Seelbach et al
Step 2 River Classification Hydrology-based Define flow-ecology response curves for types of rivers This example shows that river types do not necessarily group geographically. MICHIGAN, USA Seelbach et al

USGS Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process (HIP)
River Classification New Jersey, USA USGS Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process (HIP) Kennen et al (2007)

New Jersey River Classification
USGS Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process (HIP) HIP has software and procedures for calculating 171 hydrologic metrics and classifying the streams by cluster analysis of those values. Kennen, J. G., J. A. Henriksen, et al. (2007). Development of the Hydroecological Integrity Assessment Process for Determining Environmental Flows for New Jersey Streams, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report , 55 p. Kennen et al (2007)

Geomorphic Sub-Classification
Snohomish River basin, USA Stream Macrohabitats. Aggregation of stream reaches with unique combinations of size, elevation, gradient, geology and connectivity. Snohomish River basin, Washington State. These maps have been published in: Higgins, J. V. Maintaining the Ebbs and Flows of the Landscape – Conservation Planning for Freshwater Ecosystems. Chapter in: Groves, C. R. and contributors Drafting a Conservation Blueprint: a Practitioner's Guide to Regional Planning for Biodiversity. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Higgins et al (2003)

Geomorphic Sub-Classification
Snohomish River basin, USA Combining all of the maps shown on previous slides results in geomorphic sub-classsification. Higgins et al (2003)

Hydrologic Foundation
Step 1 Streamflow database Hydrologic Foundation Measured baseline hydrographs Measured developed-condition hydrographs Basin characteristics, climate database Hydrologic model Water use database Baseline hydrographs for all control points Developed-condition hydrographs for all control points Hydrologic foundation used to calculate hydrologic alteration at all analysis nodes in the region. River classification Analysis of hydrologic alteration

Compute Hydrologic Alteration
Step 3 Compute Hydrologic Alteration SELECTING HYDROLOGIC METRICS Criteria Strongly linked to ecological condition Amenable for use as water management targets Examples Emphasize that data are compiled from existing sources, not collected in new monitoring program at this point. Timing of flood peaks Duration of zero-flow period Percent of August flow diverted

Step 3 Compute Hydrologic Alteration ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW COMPONENTS Output from TNC’s IHA software Large flood High flow pulse Small flood Streamflow (cfs) Low flow Extreme low flow COMPUTING FLOW STATISTICS AND HYDROLOGIC ALTERATION Hundreds of flow statistics that are already being used in hydro-ecological research and environmental flow assessments may also be used in ELOHA. Among these are the 34 “Environmental Flow Components,” or EFCs, introduced by The Nature Conservancy to describe the magnitude, duration, frequency, timing, and rate of change of pulses, large and small floods, and low and extreme low flows. EFCs are well suited for ELOHA because they strongly link between environmental flow assessment and implementation, and they have clear ecological relevance. Because EFCs are intuitive to hydrologists, ecologists, and water managers alike, they greatly facilitate communication and understanding between the disciplines. The Nature Conservancy’s Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software (free download at nature.org/freshwater) calculates hydrologic statistics, including EFCs, and also measures the degree of hydrologic alteration between baseline and developed conditions. ELOHA uses statistical methods to select a small, manageable subset of non-redundant flow variables for analysis of hydrologic alteration. Day of Year For each: Magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, rate of change

Step 3 Compute Hydrologic Alteration Output from The Nature Conservancy’s Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software Example of hydrologic alteration – IHA output

Step 3 Compute Hydrologic Alteration Output from The Nature Conservancy’s Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software Another example

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Recap: Start with hydrologic foundation (Click) Just talked about using baseline hydrographs to classify streams (Click) Next, use baseline + developed-condition hydrographs to compute degree of hydrologic alteration within each stream segment (or, at each “anaysis point”) SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

So, at this point in the ELOHA process, we have a database (ideally GIS) of stream segments (control points) and with each segment is associated a river type and measures of hydrologic alteration.

Hydrologic alteration
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Biotic indicator Hydrologic alteration Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Step 3, which I just explained, was to compute the degree of hydrologic alteration for each river segment. (Click). Then, we group the hydrologic alteration data by river class, or type. Remember, our goal is to develop flow-ecology response curves relating hydrologic alteration to ecological condition for each river class. (Click) To remind you again, here is a flow-ecology response curve. So, we now have the data for the x-axes of the curves for each hydrologic variable within each river class. Where do we get the data for the corresponding y-axis? (Click) We do that through the ecological analysis, beginning by developing flow-ecology hypotheses. By starting with hypotheses, our flow-ecology relationships are mechanistic and not simply empirical, and our subsequent data compilation is systematic. SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Flow Alteration- Ecological Response Relationships
Step 4 Flow Alteration- Ecological Response Relationships FLOW-ECOLOGY HYPOTHESIS INVERTEBRATE RICHNESS or BIOMASS Hypothetical curves state specific flow and ecological variables, although the axes don’t yet have numbers. One approach: facilitated interdisciplinary workshop, culminating extensive literature search. Conceptual flow-ecology response curve. Until data is assembled or collected to test this relationship, this curve represents a hypothesis. This hypothesis is supported by scientific understanding that decreasing frequency of substrate-disturbing floods leads to a shift to long-lived, large-bodied species; declines in richness would be expected as fine sediments accumulate. With increasing frequency of substrate-disturbing floods, a shift to “weedy” species would be expected, along with loss of species with poor recolonization ability. Decreasing Increasing FREQUENCY OF SMALL FLOODS

Flow-Ecology Hypothesis – Verde River, Arizona
Hypothetical response of several woody species and associated wildlife to groundwater depth. Cottonwood seedlings need shallower depth to water during their recruitment year, and are also affected by the rate of water table decline. Woody species curves based on data from Leenhouts et al. (2006). From: Haney, J. A., Turner, D. S., Springer, A. E., Stromberg, J. C., Stevens, L. E., Pearthree, P. A. and Supplee, V. (2008). Ecological implications of Verde River flows, A report by the Verde River Basin Partnership, Arizona Water Institute, and The Nature Conservancy: Haney et al (2008)

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Last slides: flow-ecology hypotheses expressed as graphs. Next: Compile data to put numbers on the graphs. SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Flow - Ecology Response Curves
Step 4 Flow - Ecology Response Curves ECOLOGICAL DATA COMPILATION Criteria Sensitive to existing or proposed flow alteration Can be validated with monitoring data Are valued by society Examples Data are compiled from existing sources, not collected in new monitoring program at this point. Data can be indirectly related to biological condition. Examples: geomorphic condition, water quality (DO, temp), social measures such as fish catch. Aquatic invertebrate species richness Riparian vegetation recruitment Larval fish abundance

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Last slide: data compilation Next: plot ecological data vs hydrologic alteration for each class of river. Every dot on the graph represents a different site at which ecological data were collected. Thanks to the Hydrologic Foundation, we also have measures of hydrologic alteration for every site, so we can plot ecological condition vs hydrologic alteration. Next slide shows an example using real data. (It’s not couched in terms of hydrologic alteration because it was not developed for ELOHA, but could conceivably convert x-axes to measures of hydrologic alteration) SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Flow - Ecology Response Curves
Species cover vs. flow permanence Note that some relationships appear to be linear, others are curvilinear, and others indicate thresholds. Source: Stromberg JC, KJ Bagstad, JM Leenhouts, SJ Lite, E Makings Effects of stream flow intermittency on riparian vegetation of a semiarid region river (San Pedro River, Arizona). River Research and Applications 21: Permission required for reproducing these data or this figure. Julie Stromberg’s notes: Response curves for individual species show that some, such as bulrush and rush, show a threshold type relationship, with their cover along the low-flow channel dropping to zero as stream flow changes from perennial (i.e., 100% flow permanence) to intermittent. Others such as Bermuda grass increase in cover as the stream becomes drier. SAN PEDRO RIVER, ARIZONA, USA Stromberg et al (2005)

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Now that we have flow-ecology response curves for each type of river in a region, how is that information used to manage e-flows? (Click three times while walking through the first 3 steps of the social process) SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Approaches for Setting Ecological Goals
All rivers have the same goal Stakeholders set the goal – Michigan, USA Government sets the goal – European Union 2. Different classes of rivers have different goals Stakeholders classify the rivers – South Africa Government classifies the rivers – Connecticut, USA 1. All rivers have the same goal 1a. Stakeholders set the goal Michigan 1b. Government sets the goal EU – all streams must acquire “good” status Different classes of river have different goals 2a. Stakeholders classify the rivers Tanzania – see World Bank “Mainstreaming” South Africa – see new regulation, ~ Oct 2008 2b. Government classifies the rivers Maine Connecticut Each river has its own unique goal 3a. Stakeholders set the goals Texas 3b. Government sets the goals Florida and Australia – goals are established as part of the catchment level water allocation planning based on local, national, and international objectives (see World Bank repor 3. Each river has its own unique goal Stakeholders set the goals – Texas, USA Government sets the goals – Australia

Ecological Goal Classes
CONNECTICUT, USA Class 1 – Natural Class 2 – Near Natural Class 3 – Ecologically Sufficient Class 4 – Ecological Non-Attainment Waters MAINE, USA Class AA – Outstanding natural resource for preservation Class A – Habitat for fish and other aquatic life is natural Class B – Habitat for fish and other aquatic life is unimpaired Class C – Habitat for fish and other aquatic life exists

Michigan’s Screening Tool for Ground-Water Withdrawals
Step 1. Step 2. Determine acceptable ecological conditions Define environmental flow targets Michigan’s Screening Tool for Ground-Water Withdrawals 1.0 0.9 - 0.8 - 0.7 - 0.6 - 0.5 - 0.4 - 0.3 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.0 Characteristic species Proportion of initial fish population metric ECOLOGICAL CONDITION Adverse resource impact Progression from flow alteration-ecological response relationships to environmental flow standards (modified from Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council, 2007). Using existing fish population data across a gradient of hydrologic alteration, scientists developed two flow-ecology relationships between populations of “thriving” (specialist) and “characteristic” (more generalist) fish species versus proportion of “index” (median August) flow reduction in 11 stream types in Michigan, USA. A diverse stakeholder committee then proposed a ten percent decline in the thriving fish population index as an acceptable resource impact, and a ten percent decline in the characteristic fish population index as an adverse impact. The corresponding flow alteration (X-axis) would trigger environmental flow management actions associated with each of these ecological conditions. The “ten-percent rule” applies to all of the 11 stream types, but the shapes of the curves – and therefore the allowable degree of hydrologic alteration -- vary with stream type. P.S. The legislature voted to use a “three-percent rule” in the final law, which was passed in summer 2008. Proportion of index flow removed ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW STANDARD

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Now that e-flow standards have been set, how are they implemented to protect and restore e-flows? SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

Implementing Environmental Flow Targets
Protection Dam siting and operation Permit system for withdrawals River basin management Restoration Dam re-operation Conjunctive ground- / surface-water use These are ways to “implement” environmental flow management. How best to organize and optimize these activities? Drought management planning Demand management (conservation) Water transactions Moving diversion points

Infrastructure upgrade
Hydrologic Foundation Comprehensive Water Resource Management Tool Streamflow database Water use database Basin characteristics, climate database Hydrologic model Climate change Integrated water management Hydrographs for all control points Population growth Hydrologic foundation – modern consensus that we need to do this. Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool, Texas WAM, CalSim, Calvin, Colorado DSS, Virginia’s OASIS and HSPF. ELOHA’s hydrologic foundation anchors decisions about future water allocation and river management to a comprehensive understanding of the availability, location, and timing of the flows needed to maintain or restore the overall health of a region’s river ecosystems. Because the hydrologic foundation accounts for the cumulative effects of all water uses, it can be used to assess the practical limitations to, and opportunities for, implementing environmental flow targets at any analysis point in the project area, or for every point simultaneously. It can be used, for example, to prioritize restoration projects, optimize water supply efficiency, or account for cumulative upstream and downstream impacts in permitting decisions. For basins in which water is already over-allocated, it can help target flow restoration options. The hydrologic foundation is the most expensive and time-consuming part of ELOHA. But understanding the actual availability of water at any time and place is fundamental to managing the resource. Streamflow gaging stations are important, but insufficient for integration. Also need water use and models. Infrastructure upgrade Analyses Environmental flow targets

State, Provincial, or National Government
Streamflow and water-use data Ecological data Local Communities Hydrologic model Ecological goals Flow-ecology response relationships Environmental flow standards Implementation Assessment One example of how ELOHA can fit into a statewide e-flows management program. The state/provincial/national government or interbasin river commission coordinates the development of flow-ecology response curves for different types of rivers. Local watershed groups use these curves to inform their decisions about what flow standards to set for individual rivers in their watersheds. The regulatory agency then manages water resources (through a withdrawal permit system, reservoir operating rules, etc) to meet those standards. e-DSS Permit system and reservoir operating rules

Step 2. Stream Classification Baseline Hydrographs Stream Hydrologic Classification Geomorphic Stratification Hydrologic Model and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration Degree of Hydrologic Alteration Hydrologic Alteration by River Type Developed Hydrographs Monitoring Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships Flow Alteration-Ecological Response Relationships by River Type Flow - Ecology Hypotheses Ecological Data and Indices Monitoring and feedback is a critical part of the framework. Both the science and the implementation can always be improved. SOCIAL PROCESS Societal Values and Management Needs Environmental Flow Standards Implementation Acceptable Ecological Conditions Adaptive Adjustments

TIME AND MONEY INVESTED
Confidence in Protecting Healthy Rivers Studies TIME AND MONEY INVESTED High Experts Medium Low Literature Entire Country River Type Single River

For further information:
nutrient cycling For further information: Dr. Eloise Kendy Director, Environmental Flows Program The Nature Conservancy ***** Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation. *****

Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Do not reproduce any photos that are in this presentation."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback