Science Articles

Leveraging environmental flows to reform water management policy: Lessons learned from the 2014 Colorado River Delta pulse flow

ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
2017
Kendy, Eloise; Flessa, Karl W.; Schlatter, Karen J.; de la Parra, Carlos A.; Hinojosa Huerta, Osvel M.; Carrillo-Guerrero, Yamilett K.; Guillen, Enrique
Publisher N/A
SourceWeb of Science
Volume / Issue106
Pages683 - 694
Total Pages N/A
Article Link N/A
PDF Linkhttp://ac.els-cdn.com/S0925857417300691/1-s2.0-S0925857417300691-main.pdf?_tid=e291fc32-3a57-11e7-ab4d-00000aab0f02&acdnat=1494953659_59f73c4305897db956ffc628144a3acd
ISBN N/A
DOI10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.012
Editor(s) N/A
Conference / Book Title N/A
Flag N/A
TagsEnvironmental flow; Minute 319; Colorado River Delta; Riparian restoration; Water management; Advocacy Coalition Framework
Other N/A
Conference Title N/A
Conference Date N/A
Publication Date17-Sep
Article Date N/A
GS Citation N/A
AbstractAbstract Minute 319, a binational agreement between the United States and MŽxico, authorized environmental flows into the Colorado River Delta, including a high-profile pulse flow delivered in March through May 2014. Reforming water management policy to secure future delivery of environmental flows to the delta hinges on demonstrating the feasibility of delivering environmental water and documenting positive ecological responses of the deltaÕs severely degraded riparian habitat. The design of the flowÕs hydrograph, the novel utilization of irrigation infrastructure, the preparation and subsequent maintenance of selected restoration sites, and interdisciplinary monitoring at multiple scales combined to show that ecological restoration is possible, even with extremely small water volumes compared to historical flows. The overwhelmingly positive social responses to the flow are likely as pivotal to future flows as are the biophysical responses. The pulse flowÕs unique binational character demanded exceptional collaboration and communication involving local, state, and federal government agencies; water managers; water users; scientists; and non-governmental organizations. The success of such a politically, operationally, and scientifically complex endeavor in the severely over-allocated Colorado River Basin bodes well for the future of environmental flows in its delta and in other water-stressed settings, worldwide.
Created: 12/14/2017 10:30 AM (ET)
Modified: 12/14/2017 10:30 AM (ET)
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