Status of Instream Flow Science i n the Southeastern US

1. Status of Instream Flow Science in the Southeastern US Mary M. Davis, Ph.D., Technical Advisor Southern Instream Flow Network

2. Objectives • Present a scientific framework for establishing protective instream flow criteria • Provide an update on advances in instream flow science in SE US • Strengthen links between mollusk and instream flow scientists in the region

3. “Hydrologic regimes are the master variables in aquatic ecosystems.” Poff et al. 1997

4. Alteration of hydrologic regimes is a primary threat to the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Source: USFS CSIROMk2-B2 Scenario

5. Who decides how much water needs to stay in the rivers? Water Management

6. Scientifically credible environmental flow standards are necessary to balance economic pressures. IFIM IFIM ESWM ELOHA

7. Southern Instream Flow Network Purpose - To facilitate protective instream flow policies and practices in 15 southern states by providing science-based resources and opening lines of communication. More information at: www.southeastaquatics.net/programs/sifn/

8. Southern State Approaches for Determining IF Standards • Minimum flow threshold • 7Q10 (e.g., AL, LA, MS) • Modified Tennant (e.g.,AR, GA, SC) • Statistically based standards (e.g., FL St Johns WMD, Potomac River Commission) • Percent of flow approaches (e.g., FL SW Florida and Suwannee River WMDs, TN Presumptive WQ Standard)

9. Science-based Methods to Determine Instream Flow Needs • Incremental Flow Method (IFIM) • Ecologically Sustainable Water Management (ESWM) • Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA)

10. Science-based Methods to Determine Instream Flow Needs • Incremental Flow Method (IFIM) • Ecologically Sustainable Water Management (ESWM) • Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA)

11. Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) (Source: Poff et al. 2010) http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/eloha

12. Biotic indicator Hydrologic alteration Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) (Source: Poff et al. 2010) http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/eloha

13. Use of Ecological Response to Limit Flow Alteration 1.0 0.9 - 0.8 - 0.7 - 0.6 - 0.5 - 0.4 - 0.3 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.0 Characteristic species Thriving species ECOLOGICAL CONDITION Proportion of initial fish population metric Acceptable resource impact Adverse resource impact 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 Source: Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council, 2007

14. Example Flow Prescription Percent of Flow and Seasonality of allowable cumulative withdrawals Day of Year Source: Southwest Florida Water Management District MFL Program

15. Objectives • Present a scientific framework for establishing protective instream flow criteria • Provide an update on advances in instream flow science in SE US • Strengthen links between mollusk and instream flow scientists in the region

16. Southern Instream Flow Research Agendawww.southeastaquatics.net/programs/sifn • Problem: The limited focus on research and funding for instream flows has resulted in a lack of science to support protective instream flow standards. • Objective: to highlight research needs and coordinate sources of funding and research to address these needs. • Goal: to ensure that instream flow research is focused on the needs of water resource managers for scientifically credible and protective state instream flow standards and practices.

17. Support for the Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda Gulf Coast Prairie South Atlantic

18. Instream Flow Products Under Development for the LCCs • Hydrologic Foundation • Ecological Databases • Flow-ecology Literature Review • Flow Alteration Assessment • River Classification • Aquatic Conservation Priorities

19. Integration of Instream Research Agenda Products To Develop Flow-Ecology Relationships + Ecological Condition Assessment Ecological Condition Ecological Metric Ecological Data - Research Priorities and Validation - 0 + Hypothetical Flow-Ecology Relationships Hydrologic Alteration Aquatic Conservation Priority Areas Quantify Flow Alteration Hydrologic Models Sources of Flow Alteration River Classification

20. Integration of Instream Research Agenda Products To Develop Flow-Ecology Relationships + Ecological Condition Assessment Ecological Condition Ecological Metric Ecological Data - Research Priorities and Validation - 0 + Hypothetical Flow-Ecology Relationships Hydrologic Alteration Aquatic Conservation Priority Areas Quantify Flow Alteration Hydrologic Models Sources of Flow Alteration River Classification

21. SE River Classification • Based on existing classifications • Hierarchical scales • for geomorphology, hydrology, and biota • Principals: • John Faustini, USFWS and Chris Konrad, USGS

22. SARP Flow Alteration Assessment Approach –Qualitatively assess sources, spatial distribution, and relative magnitude of hydrologic alteration from water consumption, impervious cover, and dams.

23. Preliminary SE Flow-Ecology Relationships Source: McManamay et al. 2011

24. Objectives • Present a scientific framework for establishing protective instream flow criteria • Provide an update on advances in instream flow science in SE US • Strengthen links between mollusk and instream flow scientists in the region

25. Integration of Instream Research Agenda Products To Develop Flow-Ecology Relationships + Ecological Condition Assessment Ecological Condition Ecological Metric Ecological Data - Research Priorities and Validation - 0 + Hypothetical Flow-Ecology Relationships Hydrologic Alteration Aquatic Conservation Priority Areas Quantify Flow Alteration Hydrologic Models Sources of Flow Alteration River Classification

26. Priority Instream Flow Research Topic 3: Compile regional aquatic ecology data sets Multistate Aquatic Resources Information System www.marisdata.org Integrating State Data into the National Fish Habitat Assessment MARIS States (2010)

27. Conclusions: • Instream flow science is advancing through state, regional, and national efforts. • Access to biological monitoring data is key to developing scientific flow-ecology relationships. • Good communication among mollusk scientists and instream flow programs will be key to leveraging limited resources and protection of southern aquatic resources.