Presenters:

Jim Mead, Tom Reeder and Steve Reed, NC Division of Water Resources

Abstract:

This presentation will provide background on instream flow needs and ecological flows, and describe the Division of Water Resources’ efforts to quantify ecological flows for basinwide planning.

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for developing hydrologic models for each of the 17 major river basins in North Carolina. The models will be used to evaluate water availability under existing conditions, as well as in the years 2030 and 2050. Using these models, flows at specified locations can be simulated that account for existing and projected water supply withdrawals and wastewater discharges.

A key factor in long-range planning for water availability is the amount of water needed in a river or stream to maintain ecological integrity – the ecological flow. It is not practical to conduct site-specific studies for each node in every basinwide model, so DWR is currently working to develop an approach that can be used to quantify ecological flows for mid- and long-range planning purposes in River Basin Hydrologic Models and Water Resources Plans. The Ecological Flows Science Advisory Board was established in November 2010 to assist DWR in this effort.

DWR's web page for ecological flows can be found at:

http://www.ncwater.org/Data_and_Modeling/eflows/

Date:

29 March 2011

Social Hour @ 5:30

Dinner @ 6:30

Speaker @ 7:00

Location:

BB&Y Cafe

3700 National Drive, Suite 101

Raleigh, NC 27612

http://www.bbycafe.com