Recommendations_of_Coastal_Ecological Flows_Working_Group

Recommendations from
Coastal Ecological Flows
Working Group
Bob Christian
August 20, 2013
Working Group Membership
•Bob Christian ECU
•Eban Bean ECU
•Dean Carpenter APNEP
•Scott Ensign Aquaco Consulting
•Mike Griffin ECU
•Kevin Hart NC DMF
•Mike O'Driscoll ECU
•Mike Piehler UNC IMS
•Judy Ratcliffe Natural Heritage
•Fritz Rhode NOAA
•Bennett Wynne NC Wildlife Resources

•With aid of Stan Riggs and Dorothea Ames

Overall Objectives
•Assess applicability of previous coastal work
–Other states
–Greenville
•Develop stream typology
•Advance spatial modeling and mapping
•Establish relevant ecological and biological dependencies on flow
•Develop frameworks for potential coastal EF criteria and protocols if possible
•Identify factors limiting EF protocols and needed research within coastal systems

by Scott Ensign
1st cut recommended designations
(Eban Bean and Mike Griffin)
•Origin by reach
•Evaluation of medium vs low slope cutoff
–Medium =>2.51 mm/m
–Low <= 2.50 mm/m
•Tidal effect is below 1 m elevation

from Eban Bean and Mike Griffin
Link of Stream Typology & Potential EF Determination
Research Needs
1.Determine correspondence of known discharge patterns with
nearby coastal plain stream flow, stage and floodplain inundation
patterns.
2.Evaluate juvenile abundance indices vs. flow and
salinity/conductivity.
3.Map salinity distribution across coastal plain.
4.Determine the upper-most extent of tidal influence across coastal
plain.
5.Quantify stream typology classes.
6.Evaluate Roanoke slabshell and other mussel distributions and
abundance as informative of salinity and flow patterns.
7.Determine hydrologic metrics and characteristics of coastal
streams.
8.Determine reference flow regimes for each river basin.
9.Assess the balance of withdrawals from and discharges to coastal
streams.