Hydroscape Ecology Completed
The interdisciplinary team of hydroscape ecology develops and advances a broad, landscape-scale perspective of ecological flows for aquatic ecosystems. A hydrologic landscape, hydroscape, is an environmental theater, where hydrologic, geomorphologic, biogeochemical, biological, and anthropogenic processes play to provide ecological services to the society. The construction of water control structures, water management and diversion, land conversion, and other social-economic activities have fragmented and domesticated hydroscapes. Decisionmakers are facing great challenges to manage and restore aquatic ecosystems, partially because of the lack of a landscape perspective.
Dams and Their Ecological Consequences
Scientists in the Aquatic Systems Branch have been studying the impacts of dams on riverscapes for more than two decades. Our scientists have written many reports on the effects of dams on recruitment of bottomland pioneer trees, such as cottonwood, along the Upper Missouri River and the Bill Williams River, and the effects of dams on channel geometry and vegetation throughout the Great Plains. Understanding the effects of dams and the relations between flow, sediment, and vegetation have allowed AS Branch scientists to provide valuable information for managing flow releases from dams to enhance native tree recruitment, or to remove exotic plant species that are encroaching on the channel along several rivers. Recently, AS Branch scientists are monitoring changes to flood plain vegetation along the Elwha River in Olympic National Park in response to the removal of two large dams. This study will provide lessons and guidance to the design and planning of future aquatic restoration efforts. We also study the ecological consequences of the experimental pulse flow in the Colorado River.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Ecological Flows
- Overview
The interdisciplinary team of hydroscape ecology develops and advances a broad, landscape-scale perspective of ecological flows for aquatic ecosystems. A hydrologic landscape, hydroscape, is an environmental theater, where hydrologic, geomorphologic, biogeochemical, biological, and anthropogenic processes play to provide ecological services to the society. The construction of water control structures, water management and diversion, land conversion, and other social-economic activities have fragmented and domesticated hydroscapes. Decisionmakers are facing great challenges to manage and restore aquatic ecosystems, partially because of the lack of a landscape perspective.
Dams and Their Ecological Consequences
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsA large cooperative project is taking place with Olympic National Park in the Elwha River in anticipation of removal of two dams. Restoration of the entire river to natural free flows will allow returning salmon access to historic spawning grounds. Photo by John McMillan. Public domain. Scientists in the Aquatic Systems Branch have been studying the impacts of dams on riverscapes for more than two decades. Our scientists have written many reports on the effects of dams on recruitment of bottomland pioneer trees, such as cottonwood, along the Upper Missouri River and the Bill Williams River, and the effects of dams on channel geometry and vegetation throughout the Great Plains. Understanding the effects of dams and the relations between flow, sediment, and vegetation have allowed AS Branch scientists to provide valuable information for managing flow releases from dams to enhance native tree recruitment, or to remove exotic plant species that are encroaching on the channel along several rivers. Recently, AS Branch scientists are monitoring changes to flood plain vegetation along the Elwha River in Olympic National Park in response to the removal of two large dams. This study will provide lessons and guidance to the design and planning of future aquatic restoration efforts. We also study the ecological consequences of the experimental pulse flow in the Colorado River.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Ecological Flows
Ecological flow is a central theme of AS Branch studies, as our research examines how water flows affect populations, communities, ecosystems, and hydroscapes. Our studies elucidate the interactions among hydrologic, geomorphologic, biogeochemical, biological, and anthropogenic processes. Branch scientists identify and quantify the spatial and temporal attributes of water flow for ecological needs...