Determination of Environmental Flow Using a Holistic Methodology in Three River Paths in the Tempisque River Basin, Costa Rica

Abstract

The study of environmental flow has garnered significant scientific interest due to the considerable degradation caused by human activities on aquatic ecosystem dynamics. Environmental flow is defined as the quantity, timing, and quality of water flow required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems while meeting human demands. Research in riverine ecosystems can generate the critical scientific knowledge needed to determine an adequate environmental flow that balances the requirements of both aquatic organisms and human populations. This study is part of a series of investigations aimed at field-testing different methodologies to determine appropriate environmental flow levels for rivers with specific characteristics. In particular, we adapted and validated a holistic methodology for calculating the environmental flow regime in the Tempisque River basin in Costa Rica. This research involved analyzing hydrological parameters, hydraulic conditions, the presence of flow bioindicators, and various anthropogenic uses of the river (such as human consumption, productive, recreational, and cultural activities) to estimate environmental flow requirements throughout the year. The findings indicate that the lower and upper limits of the environmental flow for the studied section of the Tempisque River correspond to the monthly excesses of 95.00% and 64.00%, respectively. These results provide a reliable annual flow regime that can inform decision-making by authorities in water resource management, particularly in regions where there is a high demand for water across different human activities.