rivers for life managing water for people and nature
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Rivers for Life Managing Water for People and Nature. Brian Richter Director, Sustainable Waters Program. Global Water Consumption. Sustainable Water Management. Managing human uses of water such that enough water of sufficient quality is available for use by future generations. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Rivers for Life
Managing Water for People and Nature
Brian RichterDirector, Sustainable Waters Program
Global Water Consumption
Sustainable Water Management
Managing human uses of water such that enough water of sufficient
quality is available for use by future generations
Ecosystem Services
E = ecosystem support H = human use
Traditional Approach to Water Management
E = ecosystem support H = human use
A Sustainable Approach to Water Management
Water Availability in Texas
Eco
log i
c al C
ond
itio
n
The Ecological Condition Gradient
Increasing Effect of Human Activity
Natural structure & function of biotic community maintained
Minimal changes in structure & function
Evident changes in structure and minimal changes in function
Moderate changes in structure & minimal changes in function
Major changes in structure & moderate changes in function
Severe changes in structure & function
1122
33
44
55
66
Adaptive Flow Restoration
E = ecosystem support H = human use
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Environmental Flow Building BlocksSavannah River, below Thurmond Dam (River-Floodplain)
Low Flows
High FlowPulses
Floods
3,000 cfs; 3 successive years every 10-20 years• Floodplain tree recruitment
<5,000 cfs• Adequate floodplain drainage
• Create shallow water habitat for small-bodied fish
>8,000 cfs• Larval drift for pelagic spawners
50,000-70,000 cfs; 2 weeks, avg every 2 yrs• Maintain channel habitats
• Create floodplain topographic relief• Provide fish access to the floodplain
• control invasive species• Maintain wetlands and fill oxbows and sloughs
• Enhance nutrient cycling & improve water clarity• Disperse tree seeds
<13,000 cfs; 3 successive years, every 10-20 years• Floodplain tree recruitment
8,000-12,000 cfs;• Exchange water with oxbows
20,000-40,000 cfs; 2-3 days, 1/month• Provide predator-free habitat for birds
• Disperse tree seeds• Transport fish larvae
• Flush woody debris from floodplain to channel• Floodplain access for fish• Fish passage past NSBLD
>30,000 cfs;5 pulses, >2 days with 2 eventsof 2 week duration (March and early April)
Key
Dry Year
Avg Year
Wet Year
Benefits of Building Block Approach
• Stakeholders and water managers understand what can be regained from each piece of flow restoration
• Fosters public dialogue about river values and how far to go up the restoration curve
• Engenders political support for protection or restoration
• Stimulates creativity in searching for water management solutions
Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (LOHA) Method
Hydrologic Status
Ecological Condition Class Limits of Hydrologic Alteration
Natural, undeveloped
Natural or native condition Hydrologic characteristics altered only slightly, or not at
all.
Minimally altered
Minimal change in structure and function
One or more hydrologic characteristics are moderately
altered.
Moderately altered
Moderate change in structure and function
Multiple hydrologic characteristics are moderately
altered
Strongly altered
Major or severe change in structure and function
Most or all hydrologic characteristic are heavily
altered
“It is one thing to find fault with an existing system. It is another thing altogether, a more difficult task, to replace it
with another approach that is better.”
--- Nelson Mandela, 16 November 2000, speaking of water resource management
