1. Considering Ecosystem Services in Restoration Decisions on the Upper Mississippi River System ACES, 2008 K. S. Lubinski K. Barr J. Barko S. Bartell R. Clevenstine M. Davis D. Galat D. Wilcox

2. Outline I. UMR restoration questions II. Ecosystem services progress on the UMR - workshop results III. Outlook: - what seems to fit, what doesn’t

3. I. UMR restoration questions and decisions

4. Yesterday’s - - Fish or ducks? - To stock? Set bag limits? River Management Questions - Can we fix some pieces of the system without jeopardizing others? (fishes AND ducks AND mussels?) - How much restoration is enough? Today’s - System level Project level - Build project X? - Build project X before project Y?

5. Problem: Navigation Pool “aging” Symptoms: Altered hydrograph, loss of depth, sediment re-suspension One solution: DRAWDOWNS Justification: Good for aquatic vegetation, good for waterfowl Our multi-objective dilemma BUT … Mussel mortality?

6. II.Ecosystem services progress on the UMR - workshop results

7. Services/ Biophysical Values Economic Values Human Actions Ecosystems Ecological production functions Economic valuation functions Provides information Impacts of actions Conceptual Framework adapted from the National Research Council (2004)

8. Initial List of UMR Ecological Services Regulating Services Biological regulation Disturbance (Flood) regulation Nutrient regulation Soil retention Waste regulation Provisioning Services Food Genetic resources Raw materials Water Supply (including transportation) Cultural Services Aesthetics Recreation Science/education Spiritual/historic

9. Terrestrial Environment/ Land Use Climate Drinking Water Food Fiber Flood Mediation Waste Assimilation Recreation Navigation Floodplain Connectivity Flow Regime Water Chemistry Energy Type & Quantity Habitat Structure Biotic Interactions River Plants, Animals And Ecological Processes External, Large-Scale Driving Factors Essential River Ecosystem Characteristics Some Ecosystem Services Fluvial Dynamics

10. BASIC FLOODPLAIN ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS Vegetation Sunlight Water Sediment Physical Floodplain Template Animals Decomposers (Source: Lubinski 2007)

11. Animals HUMANS (Source: Lubinski 2007)

12. The “Horse” The “Cart” HUMANS Water Supply Raw Materials Food Waste Regulation Ecosystem Services Aesthetics Ecosystem Structures & Functions

13. Without projects Measurements/ Values With projects Measurements/ Values A Hypothetical but Likely Assessment of Benefits ES1ES2ES3ES4ES5 0 +1 +2 -2 0 +1 +2 -2 - To maximize or optimize? - Can we afford to lose any service completely? ?

14. Good News: Managers are embracing the concept of ecosystem services. System Goal 5: V iable populations of native species Limiting Factor – Loss of historical forest plant community Example Reach Objective – Adjust dam operations to emulate water table regimes that historically supported floodplain forest native plant communities. Ecosystem Functions – Soils dry & oxidize, allowing root systems to expand Species intolerant of saturated soils survive and expand range Exotic grasses and forbs less competitive with diverse native species present Forest plant species complexity increases; habitat & food resources for wildlife enriched ECOSYSTEM SERVICE Improved wildlife viewing, food foraging, aesthetics Impounded water table Lowered water table

15. III. Outlook: - what seems to fit, what doesn’t

16. Project System (UMRS) Policy Scale of Decisions Relative Value of Ecosystem Services As Decision Criteria ? ++ ? Technically measureable? Countable within framework? Outside Corps guidance?

17. Recap 1. Upper Mississippi River System management “keeping pace” with methodology and concepts 2. Management attraction to ecosystem services 3. Potential value of tool may be greater at larger scales Moving on …..