HYDROMORPHOLGY WORKSHOP CIS ECOSTAT HYDROMORPHOLGY WORKSHOP 12th and 13th June 2012 SESSION D: ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS PRESENTATIONS Proposal for an EU conceptual framework for environmental flows Assessing river flows, state of play in Spain Minimum flows and hydropeaking, state of play in France Minimum flows and hydropeaking, state of play in Austria Minimum flows and hydropeaking, state of play in Norway Implementing environmental flows, taking account of the impact on use

REVIEW OF THE STATE OF PLAY. CONCEPT Breakout groups Eflow definition is important for establishing the baseline. Trends should go from fix flows to components, Eflows should be dynamic Floods have to be adequately considered Eflows need to be clearly related to ecosystem quality Eflows paper 2.3.1. The concept and definitions of environmental flows (general definition based in bibliography) 4.2.1.1. Implicit eflow definition for the GES 2.1.2. Why a flow regime? Environmental Flow Components 4.2. Eflows to achieve WFD objectives (GES, GEP, PA, Groundwater)

ASPECTS RELATED TO DEFINITION Breakout groups Eflows should ensure fish migration, incl. downstream Ecosystem services and values should be adequately valuated Sediments is an open issue Eflows paper 4.2.1.1. “…eflows should ensure GES indicators”. Connectivity! 4.3.3. Cost effectiveness of eflows. “Many environmental flow benefits have often been ignored in benefit-cost analyses and planning processes are difficult to quantify precisely” Sediments: we are working this issue for the next version

METHODS Breakout groups Different approaches can be used (hydrological, habitat modeling, holistic). Reliable datasets are a constraint for the selection of the methods Combined use of modeling approaches Use a rationale approach, risk based (and do modeling where necessary) Eflows paper 3.1. Methodologies and fundamentals 3.3. Implementation of methods 3.3.1. The choice of the right assessment method 3.3.2. A phased hierarchical approach in the implementation of methods 3.3.3. A three-level assessment framework

IMPLEMENTING EFLOWS Breakout groups First define eflows and afterwards discuss with users Assessment process is different from implementation process Eflows paper 4.2.2. Eflows in Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWB) Environmental flows are useful and necessary in the process of identifying and designating HMWB (based in WFD CIS). “…evaluate possible significant adverse effects on the specified uses”

KNOWLEDGE Breakout groups Knowledge exchange should be promoted and facilitated Economic constraints of current EU budgets to deliver all expected research and improvements