Choosing the Right Methodology
Environmental Flow Training
Eng. Ahmed Abou Elseoud
Senior Capacity Building Expert
Major difficulties for
the implementation of E-Flows
Moore (2004)
Choosing the Right Method
Challenges for Successful E-flows
Implementation
• Development of policy and legislation on resource protection,
which would legitimize sustainable use.
• Establishment of national research programmes to increase the
knowledge base and identify links between ecosystems and
flows.
• Use of the best available knowledge from focused short-term
research to answer immediate management questions and
move ahead despite limited knowledge.
Challenges for successful E-flows
implementation
• Use of structured, transparent processes for options
assessment and decision-making,
• Learning by doing, through the monitoring of the outcomes of
the chosen option.
• Use of strategic adaptive management by adjusting
management plans where indicated by monitoring results.
How can an E-Flows assessment be incorporated
into river basin management planning?
• Understanding stakeholder needs and
increasing awareness
• Setting legislation, standards and guidelines
• Understanding river use and addressing
tradeoffs
• Increasing inter-sectoral communication and
coordination
• Setting goals and monitoring results
• Implementing research programmes
Are there any regional conventions on
environmental flows?
– No, there is no regional convention that deals
specifically with environmental flows.
– However there are treaties, such as the Mekong River
Agreement, which sets up the framework for
cooperation between riparian States in all fields of the
basin’s sustainable development for the protection of
ecosystems.
– Sub national agreements, such as the Murray Darling
Basin Initiative in Australia
Choosing the Right Method
Road Map for Implementing
Environmental Flow Approach
• developing an environmental flow policy that
follows the cycles of development,
implementation, evaluation and review
• A three‐level hierarchical approach to develop
environmental flow recommendations is
proposed:
– Preliminary assessment;
– Intermediate assessment;
– Comprehensive assessment
Road Map for Implementing
Environmental Flow Approach
• Level 1: preliminary assessment using comprehensive
hydrologic desktop methods (start it Now)
– Appropriate for setting preliminary targets as part of a screening
process
– A comprehensive hydrologic desktop approach synthesizes two
primary sources of information:
• a hydrological analysis tool that is capable of assessing a range of flow
levels;
• a literature review of the linkages between the flow regime and key
riverine resources.
– Establish local experts task force to approve the proposed
statistical methods used in calculating the Environmental Flow
– Review current legislation and recommend changes to ensure
incorporation and proper implementation of environmental flows
regulation
Road Map for Implementing
Environmental Flow Approach
• Level 2: intermediate assessment, using expert knowledge
panels (After 1-2 Years of data Collection)
– Using the Building Block Methodology (BBM) for E-Flow calculation
– The hydrological analysis outcomes are combined with information on
river ecological processes from literature and other available sources
– The BBM uses a team of experts to assess available data, model
outputs and combined professional experience to reach consensus on
the flow regime.
– Outcomes lead to experimental flow releases subjected to monitoring
and detailed impact studies
– Design and implement a comprehensive monitoring and data
collection program for hydrological, ecological, morphological, and
social data.
Road Map for Implementing
Environmental Flow Approach
• Level 3: comprehensive assessment, using expert panels and
advanced modelling approaches (Takes 3-5 years to develop
the needed data and modelling capabilities)
– Implement the full scale holistic approach in E-Flow calculations
– Examining Tradeoffs and Predicting Results of Operational Changes in
the Flow regime
– Appropriate for situations that require a high degree of certainty
before operational changes are made
– Incorporates both typical assessment techniques, studies on riverine
processes, as well as studies of socio‐economic impacts and others
– Uses intensive data collection and modeling approaches
Thank you!
