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The Wetland Book pp 1813–1823Cite as

Environmental Flows: Overview

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Abstract

The term environmental flows relates to the trade-off between keeping water in a wetland system to meet ecosystem requirements and services to dependent people (such as food, recreation, and cultural identity) versus realizing the direct benefits of removing the water for drinking, growing food, and supporting industry. It describes the quantity, quality, and timing of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems. Environmental flows is a fundamental part of water management.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK

    Michael C. Acreman

  2. Australian Rivers Institute, Faculty of Environmental Science, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Australia

    Angela H. Arthington

Authors
  1. Michael C. Acreman
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  2. Angela H. Arthington
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Michael C. Acreman or Angela H. Arthington .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia

    C. Max Finlayson

  2. International Water Security Network, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Mark Everard

  3. UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands

    Kenneth Irvine

  4. RM Wetlands and Environment Ltd., Littleworth, Oxfordshire, UK

    Robert J. McInnes

  5. U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA, USA

    Beth A. Middleton

  6. Aquatic Ecosystems Group, Department of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands

    Anne A. van Dam

  7. Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia

    Nick C. Davidson

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Acreman, M.C., Arthington, A.H. (2018). Environmental Flows: Overview. In: Finlayson, C.M., et al. The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_352

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