The Instream Flow Needs Program
Last Update/Review: October 18, 2007
This program outlines how to protect or restore fish and wildlife habitat that depends on water flow. By considering the program's science-based guidelines, natural resource managers can protect fish and wildlife populations from the direct impacts of water flow changes caused by humans.
The program undertakes a wide range of responsibilities:
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A summary fact sheet provides additional information about the program, particularly the scientific basis for instream flow needs in Alberta.
Since the early 1980s, the Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) has conducted instream flow needs studies to identify what standards are needed to protect aquatic ecosystems. The program is part of the fisheries priorities of Sustainable Resource Development and makes an important contribution to the Government of Alberta's water strategy Water for Life; Alberta's Strategy for Sustainability (2003). Determining the actual flow required and evaluating the impact of human activity on rivers is an evolving process. Initially, the program's efforts in Alberta were to restore and protect rivers by establishing minimum flow requirements. As in other jurisdictions, we recognized that focusing on minimum flows could not restore the services and functions provided by the naturally occurring variability in the flows of rivers. Considerable evidence over the last decade shows that a river's natural flow regime, both within and between years, has a major influence on a river's overall health. Although studies have led to a better understanding of aquatic ecosystems, much work remains to fully understand the relationship between stream health and water flow throughout the year.
The SRD's Fish and Wildlife Division is a founding member of the Instream Flow Council. The council is an international organization made up of provincial and state fish and wildlife agencies. Its mission is to help provincial and state fish and wildlife management agencies establish, maintain, and administer effective programs to protect instream flows for aquatic resources. SRD has been a member of the council since its inception and continues to actively participate in the council. This allows Fish and Wildlife to continuously improve the scientific techniques employed and to share the discoveries from other jurisdictions.
Several watersheds throughout the province now have Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) designated under Water for Life. Fish and Wildlife provides advice to these councils, which then make recommendations to the Water Act Director of Alberta Environment. Alberta Environment holds the legal authority to set a Water Conservation Objective. These o bjectives are the amount and quality of water set under water licences to remain in rivers for the protection of a natural water body and its aquatic environment. They are also described as flow targets to be placed on all new licences or for licences reviewed for renewal.
If you would like to know the status of your regional watershed council, or to get involved, you can find information on the water strategy page of the Water for Life website at www.waterforlife.gov.ab.ca.
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Current Projects
SRD's Fish and Wildlife Division is involved in many instream flow needs activities throughout the province. Here are a few examples of studies, either recently completed, currently underway, or in planning.
South Saskatchewan River Basin
Completed in 2003, the South Saskatchewan River Basin study examined selected main stem reaches of the Red Deer River, Bow River, Oldman River, St. Mary River, Belly River, and Waterton River, and the South Saskatchewan River proper. We based our approach on the following principle of what an IFN determination should reflect: seasonal patterns and general changes in magnitude, frequency, timing, and duration of the natural flow as illustrated through its hydrograph [a graphical representation of stage, flow, velocity, or other characteristics of water at a given point over time]. These considerations are required to maintain intra-annual (within a year), and inter-annual (between years) changes of flow. The intent was to provide an instream flow determination based on the ecological need for natural flow variation. This concept is commonly referred to as the natural flow paradigm.
• Download the report, Instream Flow Needs Determinations for the South Saskatchewan River Basin Alberta, Canada
We studied four components to represent the full extent of the aquatic ecosystem: water quality, fish habitat, riparian vegetation, and channel maintenance. The report describes how a workshop was used to develop habitat suitability criteria curves. We used the natural flow regime as the benchmark condition in describing instream flow needs. The report fully describes the approach in making IFN determinations.
• Download the report, “South Saskatchewan River Basin , Alberta , Canada : Fish Habitat Suitability Criteria (HSC) Curves”
Highwood River
Along with several other departments and stakeholders, we completed an instream flow needs study for the Highwood River in 2002. The technical team's method and final recommendations are contained in the report, Highwood River Instream Flow Needs Technical Working Group Final Report, 2002.
• Download the report, “Highwood River Instream Flow Needs Technical Working Group Final Report, 2002”
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, the Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for the North Saskatchewan River watershed, developed an instream flow needs (IFN) scope of work report for the North Saskatchewan River. The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance is currently reviewing the recommendations in the scope of work report.
• It is expected the report, “North Saskatchewan River Instream Flow Needs Scoping Study” will be posted on the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance's web site by the end of 2007
Lesser Slave River
The Lesser Slave Watershed Council , the Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for the Lesser Slave Lake and River watershed, developed an instream flow needs (IFN) scope of work report for the Lesser Slave River. An IFN Technical Advisory Committee struck by the Lesser Slave Watershed Council was formed to develop a defensible, science-based IFN recommendation that provides full, long-term protection to the aquatic ecosystem for the Lesser Slave River. Field data collection has begun and it is expected this will be a multi-year effort.
The development of the scope of work for the Lesser Slave River follows the latest thinking in the IFN scientific community. The concept of defining a flow regime that protects the aquatic ecosystem must account for natural flow variation and must also consider multiple components of the aquatic ecosystem.• Download the report, “Lesser Slave River IFN Scoping Study”
Lesser Slave Lake
The Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Council is also developing a water management plan for Lesser Slave Lake. Public and stakeholder concerns regarding Lesser Slave Lake include: lake eutrophication, siltation and sediment infilling, high and low water levels, and fish habitat quality. The IFN Technical Advisory Team was charged with the task of developing a scope of work report to address lake level requirements for Lesser Slave Lake.
A number of recommendations that could be implemented as part of the management plan for lake water levels in Lesser Slave Lake are being considered by the Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Council.
• Download the report, “Lesser Slave Lake Water Level Needs Scoping Study”Athabasca River
The Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA), in partnership with Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development developed a year-round instream flow needs (IFN) determination for the lower Athabasca River . The role of the IFN Subgroup of the Surface Water Working Group of CEMA was to address IFN issues on the lower Athabasca and to develop a defensible, science-based IFN recommendation that provides full, long-term protection to the aquatic ecosystem for the lower Athabasca River.
The scope of work report for the lower Athabasca River addressed all the river components and took into account the concept that defining a flow regime that protects the aquatic ecosystem must account for the natural flow paradigm.
• It is expected the report, “Athabasca River Instream Flow Needs Scoping Study” will be posted on CEMA's web site by the end of 2007.
Alberta Province-wide Instream Flow Needs Guideline
When humans decide to take water from the aquatic ecosystem for their own needs, determining how much water must remain to meet the river's needs is a difficult and complex question. In Alberta , there are many instances where there is good hydrologic data but little to no biological data. The Alberta Government is developing a method to determine instream flow needs using readily available hydrology data to assist the WPACs with the task of recommending instream flow requirements in Alberta 's rivers and streams where no site-specific instream flow needs data exist. The method will use the latest scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystems and processes from recent site-specific instream flow needs studies carried out on rivers in the province. The reason for using this method is similar to that for using site-specific studies; we want to set an instream flow needs recommendation that provides for the full protection of the aquatic ecosystem.
A final report is expected late in 2007.
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Resources / Studies / Links
Links
Provincial
Alberta Environment – Alberta Environment has a role in managing the use of Alberta's diverse landscapes to sustain a healthy environment, a prosperous economy and strong communities. They are committed to protecting the province's air, land, and water. They also strive to be a leader in addressing climate change and waste management.
The University of Alberta – The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta developed the River2D model, a two-dimensional model that looks at average depth as a finite element in predicting the dynamics of the water flow and further customizes its results to contribute to studies that evaluate fish habitat.
Alberta Environmental Law Centre - The Environmental Law Centre provides Albertans with an objective source of information about environmental and natural resources law.
Cumulative Environmental Management Association - The Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) is an independent collaborative organization established to develop management recommendations on how best to reduce potential long-term environmental impacts due to industrial development in northeastern Alberta. CEMA consists of over 40 organizations with a shared interest in protecting the environment in the region. CEMA members include industry, government, First Nations/aboriginals, and environmental organizations.
International
Instream Flow Council – The Instream Flow Council (IFC) is an organization that represents the interests of state fish and wildlife management agencies in the United States, and provincial and territorial fish and wildlife management agencies in Canada that are dedicated to improving the effectiveness of their instream flow programs.
State Fish and Wildlife Agency Instream Flow Needs Programs:
AlaskaNorth Carolina
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
Stream Systems Technology Center - The Stream Systems Technology Center, or "STREAM TEAM" is a US national technical center chartered to improve knowledge of stream systems and watershed hydrology, develop operational tools and technology, provide training and technical support, and identify research needs for the purpose of coordinating development of needed technology to secure favorable water flow conditions.
USGS – Aquatic Systems and Technology Applications – The USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Aquatic Systems and Technology Applications Program's mission is to provide managers with credible science-based information on how the physical, chemical, aquatic, and biological components of natural systems work together.
The Nature Conservancy – The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Through their Sustainable Waters Program, The Nature Conservancy provides global leadership in environmental flow science and management.
