Temporal and strategic substitution among river recreationists 2 AbstractUrban recreational landscapes, including rivers, are subject to increased pressure and more dynamic use. Recreationists apply a range of behavioral strategies to maintain as much as possible of their preferred experiences and outcomes in changing environments. While resource and activity substitution have been subject to several studies, less is known about strategic and temporal substitution. We studied how whitewater kayakers and anglers applied such strategies to cope with a highly variable river environment due to hydro-peaking, a production scheme expecting to become more common to adapt hydro power to other sources of renewable energy. A range of behavioral strategies including ad-hoc and planned temporal substitution, tactical and spatial substitution were identified, making recreationists better able to cope with the unpredictable river. While kayakers used mostly temporal and spatial substitution, anglers also applied tactical substitution such as changed gear and tackle, and improved their skills specifically aimed at unfavorable conditions. Future research should seek to eventually confirm and expand the identified categories of temporal and strategic substitution, for other activities and in other countries and regions. Management implicationsThe study highlights a range of cost-effective, yet useful mitigation alternatives that are highly relevant as many countries currently are reviewing their policies and licenses for hydro power. There is an increased focus on renewable, climate friendly energy, and the need to combine different types of renewables put special focus on hydro-peaking from impoundment facilities. Parallel to this, many countries are conducting processes of relicensing, which launch opportunities to better address multifunctional aspects of regulated rivers and reduce negative impacts of hydro-power. Increased and formalized contact between users, better information and physical modifications were all highly relevant mitigating measures that would enhance the suitability of the study area for recreation, within the existing regulation regime, several of these measures specifically improving temporal substitution.