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What We Do: Environmental Flows
 Fresh, clean water is essential to the health of millions of species. © Photos.com Environmental Flows -
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Managing Water for People and Nature
Water planners around the world are struggling to secure adequate supplies to meet humanity’s growing needs for water. Until recently, little formal recognition was given to the fact that fish and other aquatic species need water too. In recent decades scientists have amassed considerable evidence that a river’s natural flow regime – its variable pattern of high and low flows – exerts great influence on river health.
With careful planning and management, human needs for water can be met while minimally altering the natural flow patterns that sustain ecosystem health.
Providing Support
The Conservancy is providing global leadership in environmental flow science and management. To help others implement this cutting-edge work, program scientists provide tools, training and information, and they continue to develop and refine new methods for protecting freshwater habitats.
Conservancy staff work with water planners and governments to determine the water flows and fluctuations needed to sustain river and lake ecosystems so that appropriate environmental flow standards can be implemented in water allocation programs. Conservancy scientists are continually developing and refining scientific methods for determining environmental water needs in individual river basins, as well as developing guidelines for water allocation when detailed studies cannot be conducted immediately. They also work directly with water users – including urban water suppliers, irrigators and dam operators – to help them meet their needs while sustaining adequate river flows and lake levels.
