This talk provides an overview of the functional flows approach for the establishment of environmental flow requirements aimed at protecting multiple ecological endpoints and evaluating catchment conditions.
It further discusses the integration of this approach in the Basin-wide modelling being undertaken in the Flow-MER project.
Gavin Pryde from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder also talks about how environmental water requirements based on some of these concepts are used by water managers to inform planning and delivery.
Presenters

Dr. Kris Taniguchi-Quan
Kris is a hydrologist/geomorphologist in the Biology Department at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, where she focuses on a range of projects related to flow management and the development of instream flow targets designed to protect stream health.

Dr Eric Stein
Eric is head of the Biology Department at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, where he oversees a range of projects related to instream and coastal water quality and ecosystem health.

Gavin Pride
Gavin has worked in a range of natural resource and water management areas since leaving the University of New England in 1991. During this time, he spent 16 years with the NSW government undertaking a range of waterway restoration programs before moving into the water management space. He has spent the last 12 years with the MDBA and Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder working on an number of water management program areas.

Dr Danial Stratford
Danial is an aquatic ecologist and ecological modeller with CSIRO Land and Water in the Modelling Water Ecosystems team with a background in modelling the environmental outcomes resulting from changes in flow regimes. Danial uses a range of approaches and draws upon skills in statistical analysis, statistical modelling and mechanistic modelling to understand, quantify and predict the environmental outcomes of flow events.
Feature image: A great blue heron along the Los Angeles River. SCCWRP and its partners are exploring how to reduce flows in the river for water recycling purposes while protecting downstream ecosystems. (Image Credit: Adobe Stock)