2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

<< BACK TO AGENDA

5/23/2019 | 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | AN ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH FOR SELECTING FLOW METRICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW APPLICATIONS | 250 CF

AN ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH FOR SELECTING FLOW METRICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW APPLICATIONS

Most approaches quantifying stream flow regimes seek to link hydrology to ecology by determining which flow metrics are ecologically significant. These approaches focus on metrics related to single biological indicators and fail to capture flow regime variation upon which stream ecosystems depend. We suggest a functional flows approach to assessing environmental flow regimes more fully recognizes the array of interactions within stream ecosystems. Further, functional flow components, defined as elements of the natural flow regime known to sustain important ecosystem processes, provide a conceptual model for linking ecological interactions with quantifiable measures of flow. Functional flow components, such as winter floods or spring recession flows, can be quantified by flow characteristics, such as magnitude or rate of change, which are in turn measured by flow metrics, such as 5% exceedance flow or daily percent decrease in flow. By selecting a suite of flow metrics measuring key flow components, the spatial and temporal complexity of flow regimes can be quantified in a manner supportive of ecological processes and aquatic species requirements. Thus, we emphasize the ecology of stream ecosystems when quantifying environmental flow regimes.

Hydrology
Restoration
Dams

Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference

Presenters/Authors

Sarah Yarnell (), University of California, Davis, smyarnell@ucdavis.edu;