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.
Healthy ecosystems have evolved in response to natural flow variations.
TRINITY RIVER, CALIFORNIA, USA
 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

Environmental Flow

Ecologically defined
Entire river community
Patterns of flow
Setting Limits: Defining environmental flows

Postel and Richter, 2003

 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
Social and political contexts
 Ecological Limits
of
Hydrologic
QuantifiesAlteration
trade-offs between streamflow
alteration and ecological degradation
(ELOHA)
Informs the determination of environmental
flow targets
Integrates environmental flows into a
computerized DSS
 Ecological Limits
of
Hydrologic
Alteration
(ELOHA)
A framework for integrating
environmental flows into
regional water planning and
management
Flow Alteration - Ecological Response Curve
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
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)
Step 1
Streamflow
Hydrologic database
Foundation
Measured Measured
baseline developed-condition
hydrographs hydrographs

Basin Hydrologic Water

characteristics, model use
climate database database

Baseline Developed-condition
hydrographs for hydrographs for
all control points all control points

River
classification
Step 2
River Classification
Hydrology-based

Define flow-ecology
response curves for
types of rivers

MICHIGAN, USA Seelbach et al

 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)

Kennen et al (2007)
Geomorphic Sub-Classification
Snohomish River basin, USA

Higgins et al (2003)
 Geomorphic Sub-Classification
Snohomish River basin, USA

Higgins et al (2003)
Step 1
Streamflow
Hydrologic database
Foundation
Measured Measured
baseline developed-condition
hydrographs hydrographs

Basin Hydrologic Water

characteristics, model use
climate database database

Baseline Developed-condition
hydrographs for hydrographs for
all control points all control points

River Analysis of hydrologic

classification alteration
Step 3
Compute Hydrologic Alteration
SELECTING HYDROLOGIC METRICS
Criteria
Strongly linked to ecological condition
Amenable for use as water management targets

Examples
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
Large flood software
Streamflow (cfs)

High Small flood

flow Low Extreme
pulse flow low flow

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
Step 3
Compute Hydrologic Alteration

Output from The Nature

Conservancy’s Indicators of
Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Biotic indicator
Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

Hydrologic alteration
SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
Step 4
Flow Alteration- Ecological Response Relationships
RICHNESS or BIOMASS FLOW-ECOLOGY HYPOTHESIS
INVERTEBRATE

Decreasing 0 Increasing
FREQUENCY OF SMALL FLOODS
Flow-Ecology Hypothesis – Verde River, Arizona

Haney et al (2008)
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
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
Aquatic invertebrate species richness
Riparian vegetation recruitment
Larval fish abundance
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
 Flow - Ecology Response
Species cover vs. flow permanence
Curves
12
Hardstem bulrush Annual rabbitsfoot grass
10 Schoenoplectus acutus 20
Polypogon monspeliensis
8 Dry season
Cover (%)
15
Wet season
6
10
4
5
2

0 0

8 Torrey rush White sweetclover

20
Juncus torreyi Melilotus alba
6
Cover (%)

15

4 10

2 5

0 0
30

25 Smooth horsetail
40
Equisetum laevigatum
20
Cover (%)

30
15
20
10
Bermuda grass
10 Cynodon dactylon
5

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100

Annual flow permanence (%) Annual flow permanence (%)

SAN PEDRO RIVER, ARIZONA, USA Stromberg et al (2005)

 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
Approaches for Setting Ecological
Goals
1. All rivers have the same goal
a. Stakeholders set the goal – Michigan, USA
b. Government sets the goal – European Union

2. Different classes of rivers have different goals

a. Stakeholders classify the rivers – South Africa
b. Government classifies the rivers – Connecticut, USA

3. Each river has its own unique goal

a. Stakeholders set the goals – Texas, USA
b. 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
 Step Determine acceptable ecological
1. conditions Define environmental flow
Step targets
2.Michigan’s
1.0
Screening Tool for Ground-Water Withdrawals
Proportion CONDITION
ECOLOGICAL

0.9 - Characteristic species

of initial fish

0.8 -
population metric

0.7 -
0.6 -
0.5 -
0.4 - Adverse
resource
0.3 -
impact
0.2 -
0.1 -
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

Proportion of index flow removed

ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
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
Drought management planning
Demand management (conservation)
Water transactions
Moving diversion points
Hydrologic Foundation
Comprehensive Water Resource Management Tool

Streamflow Water
Basin database
characteristics, use
climate database database

Hydrologic
Climate model
change

Population Integrated
Hydrographs for water
growth all control points management

Infrastructure
upgrade Analyses
Environmental
flow targets
 State, Provincial, or
National Government
Streamflow Ecological
and water- data
use data Local
Communities
Assessment

Hydrologic
Ecological
model
goals

Flow-ecology Environmental
response flow standards
relationships
Implementation

e-DSS

Permit system
and reservoir
operating rules
 SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Step 1. Hydrologic Foundation Step 2. Stream Classification
Baseline Stream Geomorphic
Hydrographs Hydrologic Stratification
Classification
Hydrologic Model
and Stream Gauges Step 3. Flow Alteration
Degree of Hydrologic
Developed Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrographs Alteration by River Type

Monitoring
Step 4. Flow-Ecology Relationships

Flow - Ecology Flow Alteration-Ecological

Ecological Data
Hypotheses Response Relationships
and Indices
by River Type

SOCIAL PROCESS
Societal
Implementation Environmental Acceptable Values and
Flow Standards Ecological Conditions Management
Needs
Adaptive Adjustments
Confidence in Protecting Healthy Rivers

Studies
TIME AND MONEY

High
INVESTED

Experts Medium

Low
Literature
Entire River Single
Country Type River
nutrient cycling

For further information:

Dr. Eloise Kendy
Director, Environmental Flows Program
The Nature Conservancy

ekendy@tnc.org
http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/eloha