Figure 1.1: The process of assessing ecological flows within wider environmental flow decision-making
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The flow diagram illustrates how the process starts by “Identifying ecological values of the waterbody using local and scientific expertise”.
In parallel with “Objectives and policies of national policy statements and regional plans”, this feeds into the next stage:
“Identify the biological factors that should be considered from the list of possible factors in Tables 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1.”
Next, “Assess significance of values (national, regional etc)”
Then, “For all factors that should be considered, apply the appropriatetechnical assessment methods in Tables 2.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 4.2”
This leads to “Environmental flow and water level decisions” which both feed back to the “Objectives and policies of NPSs and Regional Plans” and continue down to: “Environmental flows and water levels must identify a goal for ecological protection and a measurable outcome that is expected”
The final step is “Monitoring: does the environmental flow and water levels provide the intended outcome?”, which also feeds back into the box of “Objectives and policies of national policy statements and regional plans”.
