Prescribing Flood Regimes to Sustain Riparian Ecosystems along Meandering Rivers

摘要: : The composition and structure of native riverine ecosystems are tightly linked to natural hydrologic variability. By managing river flows for water supplies power generation, management agencies have inadvertently caused considerable degradation associated biodiversity. New approaches meeting human needs while conserving the ecological integrity greatly needed. We describe an approach identifying flooding characteristics that must be protected or restored maintain riparian (  floodplain) along meandering rivers. developed a computer model simulate flood-driven changes in relative abundance patch types Yampa River Colorado ( U.S.A.). is based on research suggesting duration at above 209 m3 per second (125% bankfull discharge) particularly important driving lateral channel migration, which responsible initiating succession Yampa's forest. Other variables, such as magnitude annual peak flows, were not strongly correlated with migration rates. Model simulations enabled us tentatively identify threshold alteration flood could lead substantial forest over time should regulated by future projects. Based this analysis, we suggest ecologically compatible avoids crossing thresholds provides opportunity use portion waters purposes. Recommended improvements include obtaining additional low-elevation aerial photographs corridor enable better estimation rates vegetation changes. These data improve model's accuracy predictive capabilities therefore its value. Resumen: La composicion y estructura de ecosistemas riberenos estan fuertemente ligadas la variabilidad hidrologica natural. Al manejar el flujo rios para abastecer agua generar energia, las agencias manejo han causado inadvertidamente una degradacion los biodiversidad asociada ellos. Se necesitan nuevas estrategias satisfacer necesidades humanas al mismo tiempo que se conserva integridad riberenos. Describimos estrategia identificar caracteristicas inundaciones naturales deben ser protegidas o restauradas mantener riparios ( planicies inundacion) lo largo sinuosos. Desarrollamos un modelo computadora simular cambios causados por en abundancia relativa tipos parche ripario del rio Yampa, ( Estados Unidos Norteamerica). Este basa investigacion sugiere duracion inundacion a, mayor segundo descarga banco lleno su capacidad) es particularmente importante conduccion migracion canales laterales, cual responsable iniciacion sucesion ecologica bosque Yampa. Otras variables hidrologicas, como magnitud pico flujos anuales no estuvieron tan correlacionadas con tasas canales. Las simulaciones nos permitieron limites tentativos alteracion podrian conducir sustanciales parches forestales si son regulados proyectos futuros. En base este analisis, sugerimos ecologicamente evita sobrepasar provee oportunidad usar porcion fines humanos. recomendaciones mejoras incluyen necesidad obtener fotografias aereas baja elevacion adicionales corredor rio, permitan mejor estimacion vegetacion. Estos datos deberan mejorar gran medida precision sus capacidades predictivas y, tanto, valor manejo.