Citation:

Fritz, K., N. Cid, AND Brad Autrey. Governance, legislation and protection of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams. Chapter 5, Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams: Ecology & Management. ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, Holland, , 477-507, (2017).

Impact/Purpose:

This chapter, briefly reviews the history of water laws and their reflection in existing water governance systems which some are summarized for specific areas where intermittent and ephemeral waterways are addressed. The chapter discusses how flow intermittency has complicated water governance and led to some legal and policy debates, and identifies where the growing knowledge of intermittent and ephemeral waterways can be used to inform the sustainable management of these water resources.

Description:

Institutions and processes governing the conveyance and control of water have a long history. In this chapter, we discuss the extent to which water governance systems consider the management of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) and identify where research could inform decisions on their protection and restoration. Most water governance systems have focused more attention on perennial waterways than IRES. Expectations and implementation of water laws for IRES have largely been guided by those for perennial waterways. Effective water governance needs systems thinking such that IRES are viewed as key components that are interconnected with perennial surface waters, ground waters, the atmosphere and surrounding land. There is a growing recognition of IRES by governance systems because of changes in climate and land use and growing demand for clean, fresh water. Scientific advances are being made to characterize flow continuity over time and connectivity over space, and in understanding how these shape the physical, chemical and biological integrity of IRES. Advances in the sustainable management of IRES will be made when the spatiotemporal variation is embraced rather than evaded.

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