A critical analysis of regulated river ecosystem responses to managed environmental flows from reservoirs

• Published in: Freshwater biology Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 410 - 425
• Main Authors: Gillespie, Ben R., Desmet, Simon, Kay, Paul, Tillotson, Martin R., Brown, Lee E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: analytical methods; Aquatic ecosystems; Biota; climate; Downstream; Ecological monitoring; ecosystem response; Ecosystems; electrical conductivity; environmental flows; Environmentalists; experimental design; floods; Flow alteration; Freshwater; Impoundments; laws and regulations; Legislation; Macroinvertebrates; managers; meta-analysis; monitoring; Natural flow; Quantitative research; Regulated flow; reservoir; Reservoirs; River ecology; River regulations; Rivers; Statistical analysis; Studies; Suspended solids; Water law; Water outflow; Water quality; Water resources management; North America

Summary The flow regime of a river is fundamental in determining its ecological characteristics. Impoundment of rivers has been documented to severely impact the natural flow regime, resulting in abiotic and biotic changes in downstream ecosystems. Contemporary water legislation is driving increasin...