Southern Instream Flow Network (SIFN)
Rivers and streams of the Southeastern US are home to a globally significant array of fish, mussels, crayfish, and other life. The natural seasonal and inter-annual variations of water levels are critical to maintenance of these rich aquatic ecosystems. As a consequence of the widespread impacts of increased uses of surface water and climate changes in the region, SARP identified implementation of protective instream flow policies as a priority strategy in the Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan. SARP developed the Southern Instream Flow Network (SIFN) to address the impacts of flow alterations in the region’s aquatic ecosystems. SIFN leverages policy, technical experience, and scientific resources among partners based in 15 states (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV). Read more...
Southeastern State Instream Flow Programs
Please use the following links for information about instream flow protection, points of contact, and updates for a particular state:
- Alabama Arkansas Florida
- Georgia Kentucky Louisiana
- Mississippi Missouri North Carolina
- Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee
- Texas Virginia West Virginia
Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda and Research Plans
The Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda is a collaborative effort to strengthen the scientific foundation of protective instream flow standards and management practices in the Southern US. The agenda articulates the priority research topics identified by aquatic ecologists and resource managers from 15 southern states as the scientific information necessary to inform, develop, and implement protective instream flow standards. Read more...
Instream Flow Resources
The importance of natural flow regimes to the ecological integrity of rivers has been established for decades, but more specific information is needed to develop and implement scientifically credible instream flow standards. The information in this section follows the Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA, Poff et al. 2010) framework and Southern Instream Flow Research Agenda for establishing scientifically credible relationships of ecological responses to flow alteration. Read more...
Education and Outreach
While a primary objective for SIFN is to provide science-based resources to support instream flow protection, the other objective is to clearly communicate the ecological value of natural flow regimes and ecological impacts of flow alteration. The importance of clear communication to decision-makers cannot be overstated. Clear and compelling messages need to convey the dependance of healthy rivers on the natural seasonal fluctuations of flow. The materials in this section are provided as templates and other resources to help craft effective messages about the need to protect instream flows. Read more...
Partners and Funding
SIFN is a program of the Southeastern Aquatic Resources Partnership. We have enjoyed the benefit of working with all of the SARP charter partner agencies as well as many other private, state, and federal conservation and water resource agencies and academic institutions from across the region. Read more...
SIFN Documents and Other Resources
SIFN serves as a clearinghouse for science and policy information related to regional instream flow protection. SIFN documents include a primer on state instream flow protection programs and policy and resources from southern states and elsewhere around the world. Read more...
