HR: 14:45h
AN: NB23C-05 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Biotic Responses to Flow Alteration in Streams: Science, Management, and Research Gaps
AU: * Roy, A H
EM: roy.allison@epa.gov
AF: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, MS498, Cincinnati, OH 45268 United States
AU: Freeman, M C
EM: mary_freeman@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology, Athens, GA 30602 United States
AU: Kennen, J G
EM: jgkennen@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, 810 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 206, West Trenton, NJ 08628 United States
AB: Stream hydrology has been altered directly via dams and water withdrawals, and indirectly via landscape alteration. Projected increases in freshwater demands will continue to affect stream ecosystem integrity, such as through losses in native species and altered productivity. Regulatory agencies are challenged with maintaining/restoring ecological integrity in streams while meeting water supply needs and accommodating development. The natural flow regime offers an overarching paradigm for maintaining stream ecosystem health. Based on this paradigm, agencies are looking for ways to manage withdrawals and dam releases that restore natural hydrologic variability. Similarly, management of urban growth has focused on mimicking natural precipitation infiltration patterns to maintain baseflows and reduce flashy stormflows. However, little is known about the mechanisms of hydrologic and hydraulic effects on biota in altered systems, and what aspects of the natural flow regime are required for species survival. Further, we do not know how much water can be withdrawn from streams and how much precipitation must be infiltrated in the landscape to maintain ecosystem integrity. We need to address these (and other) shortfalls in ecological knowledge, and assess costs and benefits of alternative management options in order to provide adequate freshwater for stream ecosystems and the growing human population.
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1884 Water supply
DE: 6334 Regional planning
DE: 6620 Science policy
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly