The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows

An outline is given of the scale and nature of special wildlife designations in the UK river network, the general approach of the UK conservation agencies to their evaluation and management, and the specific way in which impacts of river flows are handled. The need for a holistic ecological and biod...

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Published in:Fisheries Management and Ecology
Main Authors: Mainstone, C.P., Thomas, R., Bean, C.W., Waterman, T.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Wiley 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/187831/
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spelling ftuglasgow:oai:eprints.gla.ac.uk:187831 2023-05-15T15:32:25+02:00 The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows Mainstone, C.P. Thomas, R. Bean, C.W. Waterman, T. 2012-12 https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/187831/ unknown Wiley Mainstone, C.P., Thomas, R., Bean, C.W. <http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/4210.html> and Waterman, T. (2012) The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows. Fisheries Management and Ecology <https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Fisheries_Management_and_Ecology.html>, 19(6), pp. 557-569. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x>) Articles PeerReviewed 2012 ftuglasgow https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x 2022-09-22T22:15:09Z An outline is given of the scale and nature of special wildlife designations in the UK river network, the general approach of the UK conservation agencies to their evaluation and management, and the specific way in which impacts of river flows are handled. The need for a holistic ecological and biodiversity view of water resource impacts on river systems is stressed, within which the specific needs of individual species, such as Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., can be framed. An approach founded on the provision of a natural flow regime within a natural physical channel not only provides the most suitable conditions for characteristic riverine wildlife to flourish but also provides the best local defence against global climate change. Arguments are made for a future focus on the generic evidence base for flow targets and its strengthening through strategic and demonstrably fit‐for‐purpose research. The practical constraints to an approach based on protection of the natural flow regime are discussed. Ultimately, transparent separation and consideration of what river ecosystems really need, and what can realistically be provided, is the key to shared ownership of the water resource dilemma. Article in Journal/Newspaper Atlantic salmon Salmo salar University of Glasgow: Enlighten - Publications Fisheries Management and Ecology 19 6 557 569
institution Open Polar
collection University of Glasgow: Enlighten - Publications
op_collection_id ftuglasgow
language unknown
description An outline is given of the scale and nature of special wildlife designations in the UK river network, the general approach of the UK conservation agencies to their evaluation and management, and the specific way in which impacts of river flows are handled. The need for a holistic ecological and biodiversity view of water resource impacts on river systems is stressed, within which the specific needs of individual species, such as Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., can be framed. An approach founded on the provision of a natural flow regime within a natural physical channel not only provides the most suitable conditions for characteristic riverine wildlife to flourish but also provides the best local defence against global climate change. Arguments are made for a future focus on the generic evidence base for flow targets and its strengthening through strategic and demonstrably fit‐for‐purpose research. The practical constraints to an approach based on protection of the natural flow regime are discussed. Ultimately, transparent separation and consideration of what river ecosystems really need, and what can realistically be provided, is the key to shared ownership of the water resource dilemma.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Mainstone, C.P.
Thomas, R.
Bean, C.W.
Waterman, T.
spellingShingle Mainstone, C.P.
Thomas, R.
Bean, C.W.
Waterman, T.
The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
author_facet Mainstone, C.P.
Thomas, R.
Bean, C.W.
Waterman, T.
author_sort Mainstone, C.P.
title The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
title_short The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
title_full The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
title_fullStr The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
title_full_unstemmed The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows
title_sort role of the uk conservation agencies in protecting river flows
publisher Wiley
publishDate 2012
url https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/187831/
genre Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
genre_facet Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
op_relation Mainstone, C.P., Thomas, R., Bean, C.W. <http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/4210.html> and Waterman, T. (2012) The role of the UK conservation agencies in protecting river flows. Fisheries Management and Ecology <https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Fisheries_Management_and_Ecology.html>, 19(6), pp. 557-569. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x>)
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00812.x
container_title Fisheries Management and Ecology
container_volume 19
container_issue 6
container_start_page 557
op_container_end_page 569
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