Workshop to enable the establishment of a National Research Network to assess the impacts of altered flow regimes in riverine ecosystems

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Hydroelectric developments exist or are planned in many parts of Canada. New and existing hydroelectric operations must be reviewed with the goal of reducing their ecological consequences on aquatic ecosystems. However, the response of aquatic ecosystems to altered flow regimes that often results from hydroelectric operations is not well understood. Yet a key regulatory objective of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is the consistent use of scientifically sound fish and fish habitat conservation and protection practices. Successful achievement of DFO's objective requires detailed and coordinated understanding of diverse physical and biological processes and a productive and collaborative interface between science and habitat management, academia, other regulators, and industry. There is a need for well-integrated teams to deliver the increasing demand for scientific information on complex issues through partnership with industry and other stakeholders in a coordinated framework. This proposal will move directly towards creating a national research network that would permit a better understanding of the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems to human-altered flow regimes. The purpose of this request is to obtain seed funding to organize and host a workshop to bring together representatives from academia, industry, and government.  Ultimately, this will enable the development of mitigative options for flow regulation based on sound science that consider the environmental, social, regulatory, and commercial aspects of the problem. (i.e., ensure that science products and communications inform regulatory decision-making in a manner that facilitates the development of integrated management tools that recognize the realities of both ecosystem integrity and energy generation efficiency).  Furthermore, coordinated research that would arise from this workshop and network will help to position Canada as a world leader in river stewardship and sustainable hydropower, thereby making Canada a key source of knowledge and innovation on this topic.