INSTREAM FLOW

What is instream Flow? Any quantity of water flowing in a natural stream channel at any time of year (Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship, Revised Edition, Annear, et al. 2004.)

The following information is from the Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship, Revised Edition, 2004 book:

Instream Flow consists of five riverine components:

1. Hydrology: properties, distribution, and effects of water on the earth’s surface, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere. (from www.answers.com).
a. land use practices such as draining wetlands, channelization, and water withdrawals all alter flow regimes.

2. Geomorphology: shape of the stream channel
a. physical habitat is essential to maintain aquatic communities formed
by periods of disturbance.

3. Biology: composition of the biological community.

4. Water Quality: the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of water.
a. the amount of flow affects the maintenance of water quality.

5. Connectivity: the flow, exchange, and pathways that move energy,
organisms, and matter through systems.

Other components of Instream Flow include public involvement and the legal and institutional frameworks:

1. Public Involvement: the public has a legitimate right and responsibility to be involved in the decision making process.
a. public involvement will increase support for Instream Flow protection.

2. Legal/Institutional: the Public Trust Doctrine says that the government owes stewardship regarding common property resources.
a. need a well informed and supportive public to lay the foundation
for good and protective Instream Flow laws.

Why is TWRA developing an Instream Flow Program?

With increasing population growth in Tennessee, there needs to be Instream Flow protection if we are to maintain aquatic species diversity. Species in need of management photos.

Water wars have been going on out West for a long time and the Southeastern United States has been experiencing these problems due to the increased demand for water.

Currently, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issues Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits (ARAP’s)
ARAP’s: need to apply for these if one wants to make an alteration to a stream, lake, wetland, or river.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) monitors water withdrawals where a quantity activity can lead to a quality impact, such as altering Instream Flow. Water withdrawals are regulated under the Water Quality Control Act. Unregulated water withdrawal photos.

Tennessee's Instream Flow Policy Statement


Georgia Interim Instream Flow Policy May 2001.

Georgia use to implement only the 7Q10 but by default, this became the minimum flow standard for all surface water systems in Georgia. For more information, go to: www.georgiaconservancy.org.

Links to other state’s Instream Flow Programs:

Texas: www.twdb.state.tx.us/instreamflows

Georgia: www.georgiaconservancy.org

North Carolina: www.ncwater.org

Vermont: www.crjc.org

Washington: www.ecy.wa.gov

Wyoming: http://gf.state.wy.us

Link to a resolution that was passed by the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society on Instream Flows in February 2007: www.sdafs.org

Link to the Instream Flow Council Web site:
www.instreamflowcouncil.org

Tennessee is a member of the Instream Flow Council.
Please check out the Revised Edition of the Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship, 2004. Annear, et al. This book is available for purchase on the Instream Flow Council’s website.
Currently, there are no standards for setting Instream Flows in Tennessee. TWRA is working on achieving this.

An Instream Flow Biologist was hired during the summer of 2006.

Some of our efforts include the following:

1. Regional Determinations of Hydrologic Requirements of Aquatic Ecosystems of Watersheds in Tennessee.

- Three year project that started in late 2006.

- Joint effort between USGS, TWRA, TDEC, TNC, WWF, TVA,
Oak Ridge National Lab, USFWS.

- Overall objective: Develop a statistical tool to assess ecosystem flow needs based on regional and landform characteristics using gaged (streamflow) data and applying to ungaged sites.

- A tool that will hopefully be used by management agencies to better manage the watersheds in Tennessee.

2. Instream Flow Curriculum

- grant with the Cumberland River Compact.

- Objective: Create an Instream Flow curriculum that can focus on targeted and non-targeted watersheds in middle Tennessee.

- Courses will be offered to local officials, general public, watershed
organizations, teachers, agency officials, and anyone interested.

- Courses started in March 2007.

3. Developing working relationships with USGS, TDEC, TNC, Cumberland River Compact.

4. Reviewing the literature on Instream Flow.

5. Member of the Instream Flow Council.

6. February 2007 Poster presentation at the upcoming Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society meeting. Instream Flow Poster (for best viewing, print this poster).

7. TN Wild Side Television program on Instream Flow.
Link to Web site: www.tnwildside.org.

8. Identified priority watersheds:
a. Caney Fork Creek, (Portland) Red River System
b. East and West Fork Stones River.
c. Duck River
d. Harpeth River

March 2007 Instream Flow studies began.

9. Volunteer monitoring program - Instream Flow data. Marsh Mcburney meter photos.

- Grant with Cumberland River Compact to develop a volunteer monitoring program incorporating the five components of Instream Flow.

- Pilot volunteer monitoring in Davidson County - Richland, Whites, and Mill creeks.

10. Low-head dam removal feasibility study. Low-head dam photos.
a. Harpeth River - grant with Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA)

11. Grant with Stones River Watershed Association (SRWA)
a. Conducting instream flow field work with TWRA staff.

12. 2007 Drought Monitoring
a. Collecting data from water utilities who experience water withdrawal problems due to the drought.

13. USGS project
a. Developing Regional Curves for Tennessee

14. Instream Flow Committee
a. This is one of TWRA's 2006-2012 strategic prioities.
b. Committee participants: USGS, TNC, TWRA, HRWA, SRWA, TDEC, CRC.