A Quick Lesson on

Definition: “Water that is left in a river system, or released into it, for the specific purpose

of managing the condition of that ecosystem.” (King et al. 2003)

Fishing

Farming

Drinking Water Supply GrazingGrazing Land

Pollution Control

Navigation Endangered Species Cultural & Spiritual Values

Water systems have to how muchthey can be altered before people who depend on

them lose the services that they provide . . .

Environmental Flows Can Support:

LIMITS

Environmental Flows

The Science

Water systems have natural patterns of flow. Specific flowssupport certain ecological processes. These flows can be

simulated using environmental flows.

There now exist over methods to setenvironmental flows from over countries

20040

Simplest Most Holistic

Large Flood

Fish Spawning

Examples of Important Flows

Habitat forAquatic Species

Low Flows

Water for LivestockNew Sediment

Set minimumflow levels.

Provide flowsmimicking natural

flow variability

Integratedconsideration ofsocio-economic

factors

Environmental flows can be provided atincreasingly comprehensive levels

A COMPLEX PROCESS . . .

Whether or not environmentalflows are provided is ultimatelydecided by societal priorities,and often political realities.

Transforming environmental flow studiesand policies into action is not easy.

Commitment from governments and stakeholders

Sufficient resources

Training and institutional capacity to manage waterresources

Important factors for effectiveenvironmental flow processes include:

RECOMMENDATIONS FORPRACTITIONERS

Start the process asearly as possible!

Set clear goals forthe eflows policy.

Conduct activities suitableto the resources andcapacity available.

Involve stakeholders in all stagesof the process.

Make sure all participantsunderstand the term"environmental flows"and associated concepts.

Consider the wholehydrological cycle.

Secure reliablefunding foractivities.

Make the links between environmental variables and socio-economic consequences clear.

Write environmental flowsinto policies and legislation to give them legal standing.

Acknowledge that provisionof environmental flows is along-term commitment.

Demonstrate the benefits from environmental flows after theyare implemented through monitoring and active management.

King, J., Brown, C., and Sabet , H., 2003, A scenario- based holist ic approach t o environment al f low assessment s f or rivers: RiverResearch and Applicat ions, v. 19, p. 619- 639.

Le Quesne, T., Kendy, E., and West on, D., 2010, The Implement at ion Challenge : Taking st ock of government policies t o prot ectand rest ore environment al f lows, World Wildlif e Fund and The Nat ure Conservancy.

Hirji, R., and Davis, R., 2009, Environment al Flows in Wat er Resources Policies, Plans, and Project s: Washingt on D.C., The World Bank.

www.int ernat ionalrivers.org

References