Ensuring adequate water quantity and quality in stream, riparian, and wetland systems is a pressing issue worldwide and the science related to flow management is rapidly evolving. In the last 10 years the number of research studies evaluating ecological flows has quadrupled.  The need for better science and policy to address the diversity and complexity of ecological flow issues will continue to grow in response to climate change, expanding human population, and associated increased demand for water. Researchers, managers, and policymakers need to keep up to date on the latest approaches to help inform ecological flow decisions.

            The objective of this proposed symposium is to share examples of current issues in stream flow management, the work being done to address those issues, and research aimed at improving the state of the science and our ability to deal with issues as they arise. Presentations will include studies that attempt to understand how flow alterations affect riverine systems, habitat and fish communities. The scale of examples will vary from individual streams to large rivers to wetlands to watersheds and also to broader, regional perspectives on ecological flows. This symposium will provide participants with knowledge from a variety of perspectives in applying and adapting ecological flow science. Contributions will include background on various approaches to stream flow management, scientific frameworks used for application, and analytical techniques incorporated to gain a better understanding of the ecological processes of aquatic and water-dependent ecosystems.