Definition of Ecological Flow Using IHA and IARI as an Operative Procedure for Water Management

It is widely recognized that the hydrological regime of natural flow plays a primary and crucial role in influencing physical condition habitats, which, turn, determines biotic composition sustainability aquatic ecosystems. The current hydro-ecological understanding states all components might be considered as operational targets for water management, starting from base flows (including low flows) to high flood regimes terms magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, rate change. Several codes have been developed applied on different case studies order define common tools implemented Eflow assessment. This work deals with definition an operative procedure evaluation monthly distribution adopted generic watercourse cross-section sustainable surface resource management exploitation. methodology proposes application Indicators Hydrologic Alteration (IHA by TNC) coupled valuation Index Hydrological Regime (IARI ISPRA) tool ecological each monitoring support planning. study Agri River Basilicata (Southern Italy) presented. analyses were carried out based discharge data derived applying HEC-Hydrological Modeling System at basin scale using daily rain measurements obtained regional rainfall gauge stations calibrated through observed inlet registered Lago del Pertusillo reservoir station.