Difference between revisions of "Establish environmental flows / naturalise flow regimes"

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==General description ==
 
==General description ==
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There are different definitions for the term environmental flow (Eflow, ecological flow). Based on these we summarize eflows as ‘the quality, quantity and timing of water flows required to sustain and maintain the components, functions, processes and resilience of aquatic ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people’, i.e eflow refers to the provision of water to sustain aquatic ecosystems after human needs have been satisfied. We make no claim to be complete with this definition. For further details we suggest reading Ben Gillespies entry on The River Management Blog: https://therivermanagementblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-are-environmental-flows/. It should further be stated that eflow is not the same as natural flow as they are hydrologically altered. The Conservation Gateway states: “Unlike the natural flow regime, the environmental flow regime allows for some degree of hydrologic alteration. However, environmental flows are intended to mimic the patterns and ecological outcomes of the natural flow regime”. Applying eflows can be especially useful:
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* below dams (weirs, reservoirs),
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* in case of water abstraction,
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* in case of interbasin transfer (often occures with hydropower plants or when water should be provided for abstraction/irrigation).
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Here, we refer to different references recommended for further reading. First, we refer to a document of the European Commission dealing with eflows in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). We then present a review paper by Acreman & Dunbar (2004) who outlined different methods to define the flow regime required to achieve ecological objectives. Finally, we address a framework to define eflows recommended by the Nature Conservancy.
  
 
==Applicability ==
 
==Applicability ==

Revision as of 22:32, 2 December 2015

Establish environmental flows / naturalise flow regimes

Category 03. Flow dynamics improvement

General description

There are different definitions for the term environmental flow (Eflow, ecological flow). Based on these we summarize eflows as ‘the quality, quantity and timing of water flows required to sustain and maintain the components, functions, processes and resilience of aquatic ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people’, i.e eflow refers to the provision of water to sustain aquatic ecosystems after human needs have been satisfied. We make no claim to be complete with this definition. For further details we suggest reading Ben Gillespies entry on The River Management Blog: https://therivermanagementblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-are-environmental-flows/. It should further be stated that eflow is not the same as natural flow as they are hydrologically altered. The Conservation Gateway states: “Unlike the natural flow regime, the environmental flow regime allows for some degree of hydrologic alteration. However, environmental flows are intended to mimic the patterns and ecological outcomes of the natural flow regime”. Applying eflows can be especially useful:

  • below dams (weirs, reservoirs),
  • in case of water abstraction,
  • in case of interbasin transfer (often occures with hydropower plants or when water should be provided for abstraction/irrigation).

Here, we refer to different references recommended for further reading. First, we refer to a document of the European Commission dealing with eflows in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). We then present a review paper by Acreman & Dunbar (2004) who outlined different methods to define the flow regime required to achieve ecological objectives. Finally, we address a framework to define eflows recommended by the Nature Conservancy.

Applicability

Expected effect of measure on (including literature citations):

  • HYMO (general and specified per HYMO element)
  • physico � chemical parameters
  • Biota (general and specified per Biological quality elements)

Temporal and spatial response

Pressures that can be addressed by this measure

Cost-efficiency

Case studies where this measure has been applied

Useful references

Other relevant information

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