Are large‐scale flow experiments informing the science and management of freshwater ecosystems?
Open accessAbstract
Greater scientific knowledge, changing societal values, and legislative mandates have emphasized the importance of implementing large‐scale flow experiments (FEs) downstream of dams. We provide the first global assessment of FEs to evaluate their success in advancing science and informing management decisions. Systematic review of 113 FEs across 20 countries revealed that clear articulation of experimental objectives, while not universally practiced, was crucial for achieving management outcomes and changing dam‐operating policies. Furthermore, changes to dam operations were three times less likely when FEs were conducted primarily for scientific purposes. Despite the recognized importance of riverine flow regimes, four‐fifths of FEs involved only discrete flow events. Over three‐quarters of FEs documented both abiotic and biotic outcomes, but only one‐third examined multiple taxonomic responses, thus limiting how FE results can inform holistic dam management. Future FEs will present new opportunities to advance scientifically credible water policies.
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Maintaining or restoring ecologically important attributes of hydrological regimes improves biodiversity outcomes.
“Maintaining or restoring ecologically important attributes of hydrological regimes improves biodiversity outcomes (Poff et al. 1997, Bunn and Arthington 2002, Olden et al. 2014).”
From Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss: An Emergency Recovery Plan (2020) · cites this paper as Olden et al. 2014
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References 131 · Cited by 223
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Arthington AH. 2012. Environmental flows: saving rivers in the third millennium. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
- Pullin AS and Stewart GB. 2006. Guidelines for systematic review in conservation and environmental management. Conserv Biol 20: 1647-56.
- Westgate MJ, Likens GE, and Lindenmayer DB. 2013. Adaptive management of biological systems: a review. Biol Conserv 158: 128-39.
- Authors
- Olden, J. D., Konrad, C. P., Melis, T. S., Kennard, M. J., Freeman, M. C., Mims, M. C., Bray, E. N., Gido, K. B., Hemphill, N. P., Lytle, D. A., McMullen, L. E., Pyron, M., Robinson, C. T., Schmidt, J. C., & Williams, J. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Griffith University (AU)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Kansas State University (US)
- US Forest Service (US)
- Oregon State University (US)
- ICF International (United States) (US)
- Ball State University (US)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (CH)
- Utah State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Olden, Julian D
- ORCID
- Venue
- Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-02-11
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 176-185
- ISSN
- 1540-9295 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-9309
- OpenAlex
- W2133175813
- Cited by
- 223
- References
- 131
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 21.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- DORA Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Water resources management and optimization
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Keywords
- dam operation, dam management, river flow regime, freshwater ecosystems, experimental design, water policy
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