Research priorities to improve future environmental water outcomes

Horne, Avril C.; Webb, J. Angus; O'Donnell, Erin; Arthington, Angela H.; McClain, Michael; Bond, Nicholas; Acreman, Mike; Hart, Barry; Stewardson, Michael J.; Richter, Brian; Poff, N. LeRoy. 2017 Research priorities to improve future environmental water outcomes. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 5, 89. 11, pp. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00089

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Abstract/Summary

Significant progress in environmental flow management has occurred in recent years due to several factors. These include governments committing to environmental flow programs, significant progress in scientific understanding, and environmental flow assessment methods that are cognizant of stakeholder participation and co-design. However, there remain key challenges facing environmental water management. In this paper, we report on a horizon scanning exercise that identified the questions, which, if answered, would deliver much needed progress in the field of environmental water management. We distributed an online survey to ask researchers and practitioners in the field of environmental water management to identify the key questions. The authors then consolidated 268 submitted questions and organized them into key themes. The consolidated list was presented to a workshop of environmental water researchers and practitioners, where attendees were asked to review the questions, vote on the most important, and provide feedback on gaps, issues, or overlaps. The breadth of issues facing environmental water management is captured by the six key themes into which questions were classified: (1) Ecological knowledge and environmental flow assessment methods, (2) Adaptive management, (3) Integrated management and river objectives, (4) Knowledge transfer: applying best practice in a global context, (5) Community knowledge and engagement, and (6) Active management. These questions provide a roadmap for research and management innovations that will improve the effectiveness of environmental flows programs.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00089
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	2296-665X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	environmental flows, environmental water, horizon scanning, adaptive management, active management
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Hydrology
Date made live:	03 Jan 2018 12:21 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518858

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