Computing Flow Statistics in the Barnegat Bay Watershed as a Step Toward Developing Ecological Flow Targets Active
Ecological flows (also referred to as environmental flows) collectively describe the components of streamflow that are needed to ensure the structure and function of a stream ecosystem. Five major components of streamflow that are important in shaping ecological processes in streams are: magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change. The US Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Barnegat Bay Partnership, is conducting a preliminary study to compute low-flow statistics for four streamgages located in the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) watershed, NJ as a first step in evaluating streamflow conditions as they relate to ecological flows.
Ecological flows are one of eight Ecosystem-Based Targets identified in the Barnegat Bay Partnership’s Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and relate to each of the four priority areas listed in the management plan—water quality, water supply, living resources, and land use. The flow statistics computed for this study will focus on monthly, seasonal, and annual low-flow statistics as a first step in evaluating streamflow conditions as they relate to ecological flows. The study will compute and compare low-flow statistics for historic and current time periods to help identify changes in flow over time and to provide a better understanding of the current flow conditions in major streams of the watershed. The project will also present land-use changes for the associated basins. This investigation will benefit management decisions concerning land use and water-resource management in the watershed.
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Project Team
Jonathan Kennen
Samantha Sullivan
Thomas Suro
Christine Wieben
Ecological flows (also referred to as environmental flows) collectively describe the components of streamflow that are needed to ensure the structure and function of a stream ecosystem. Five major components of streamflow that are important in shaping ecological processes in streams are: magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change. The US Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Barnegat Bay Partnership, is conducting a preliminary study to compute low-flow statistics for four streamgages located in the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) watershed, NJ as a first step in evaluating streamflow conditions as they relate to ecological flows.
Ecological flows are one of eight Ecosystem-Based Targets identified in the Barnegat Bay Partnership’s Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and relate to each of the four priority areas listed in the management plan—water quality, water supply, living resources, and land use. The flow statistics computed for this study will focus on monthly, seasonal, and annual low-flow statistics as a first step in evaluating streamflow conditions as they relate to ecological flows. The study will compute and compare low-flow statistics for historic and current time periods to help identify changes in flow over time and to provide a better understanding of the current flow conditions in major streams of the watershed. The project will also present land-use changes for the associated basins. This investigation will benefit management decisions concerning land use and water-resource management in the watershed.
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Project Team
Jonathan Kennen
Samantha Sullivan
Thomas Suro
Christine Wieben