Author(s): Eric D. Stein; Sarah Yarnell; Samuel Sandoval-Solis; Belize A. Lane; Julie Zimmerman; Jeanette Howard; Theodore E. Grantham; Rob Lusardi

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Abstract: Balancing ecological and human water needs requires characterizing key aspects of the natural flow regime and then predicting ecological response to flow alterations. This can be challenging in complex landscapes that encompass broad ranges of climatic, geologic, and land use/land cover conditions that support a diversity of biological assemblages. Here we present a two -tiered framework for the state of California, USA that combines establishment of coarse level environmental flow targets across large spatial scales with finer scale, localized flow criteria that account for specific geomorphic settings and biological community needs. Tier 1 includes development of a hydrologic classification and production of reference hydrologic expectations for each stream class based on key functional flow components. Functional flow components are used to establish flow criteria that account for patterns of seasonal and inter-annual hydrologic variability. Tier 2 allows for the development of finer-resolution of flow criteria that account for unique management considerations and local context. The tiered approach can be applied to complex landscapes to balance the need to establish comprehensive flow criteria with the de sire for regional or local specificity.

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Year: 2018