Implementation of the Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda

The Southeastern US is a global center for aquatic biodiversity which relies on clean, ample, naturally flowing water in our streams and rivers.  Pressure on these resources is increasing rapidly due to rampant population growth and climate change.  The Southeast Aquatic Resource Partnership (SARP), an affiliate of the National Fish Habitat Partnership, identified changes in natural flow regimes as a regional priority threat to these valuable resources.  The Southern Instream Flow Network (SIFN) and Research Agenda were developed to improve the scientific basis for protecting and restoring instream flows in the region.  SIFN works with state and federal aquatic experts to develop the priority, science-based resources that were identified for the region in the Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda.  The river classification framework, regional compilation of aquatic resource data, flow alteration assessment, aquatic conservation priority areas, and ecological response to flow alteration relationships will form an integrated body of information for developing science-based instream flow policies and management practices.  Examples will be presented of these publically available databases that were developed for the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SALCC) and how they were used in a recent regional workshop to develop the SALCC Instream Flow Research Plan..