Hydro-ecology of groundwater-dependent ecosystems: applying basic science to groundwater management

• Published in: Hydrological sciences journal Vol. 59; no. 3-4; pp. 530 - 544
• Main Authors: Aldous, Allison R, Bach, Leslie B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.04.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: case studies; cattle; croissance de la tourbe; Ecosystems; environmental flows and levels; espèces indicatrices des zones humides; fen; fens; flux et niveaux environnementaux; gestion des eaux souterraines; Groundwater; groundwater extraction; Groundwater management; groundwater-dependent ecosystem; hydro-ecological relationship; Hydrology; indicator species; issues and policy; marais; Peat; peat accretion; relation hydro-écologique; Thresholds; water management; water table; Water tables; wetland indicator species; Wetlands; écosystème lié aux eaux souterraines; Oregon; USA, Oregon
• DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2014.889296
• ISSN: 2150-3435; 0262-6667

Effective policies to protect groundwater-dependent ecosystems require robust methods to determine the environmental flows and levels required to support species and processes. Frameworks to support groundwater management must incorporate the relationships between hydrology and species and ecological processes. These hydro-ecological relationships can be used to develop quantitative, measurable thresholds that are sensitive to changes in groundwater quantity. Here we provide a case study from a group of fens in central Oregon, USA, that are used for cattle watering, but also support numerous sensitive species. We developed quantitative relationships between the position of the water table and wetland indicator plant species and the process of peat development, to propose groundwater withdrawal thresholds. A maximum depth to water table of –0.9 to –34.8 cm for fen plants and –16.6 to –32.2 cm for peat accretion can be tolerated in these wetlands. Defining hydro-ecological relationships as thresholds can support management decisions. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Guest editor M. Acreman Citation Aldous, A.R. and Bach, L.B., 2014. Hydro-ecology of groundwater-dependent ecosystems: applying basic science to groundwater management. Hydrological Sciences Journal , 59 (3–4), 530–544.