Integrating Aquatic Designated Use Protection and Restoration Strategies Using an Ecosystem Goods and Services Framework

• Published in: Integrated environmental assessment and management 2019-09, Vol.15 (5), p.808-818
• Main Authors: Diamond, Jerome, Tonning, Barry, Parry, Kristen, Boschen, Clint
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic environment; Boating; Clean Water Act; Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Co‐benefits; Designated uses; Drinking water; Drinking Water - analysis; Ecosystem; Ecosystem goods and services; Ecosystem protection; Environmental restoration; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - legislation & jurisprudence; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Fishing; Frameworks; Models, Theoretical; Pollutants; Pollution levels; Protection; Provisioning; Quality standards; Regulatory agencies; Restoration strategies; Stakeholders; United States; Water Quality; Water quality standards; Water Supply; Watershed protection; Watersheds
• ISSN: 1551-3777; 1551-3793
• DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4178

ABSTRACT Water quality standards programs in the United States and other countries are based on designated uses (DUs), which are linked to criteria that specify maximum pollutant levels and other characteristics that are thresholds for waterbody compliance with regulatory goals. Most DUs are similar to certain provisioning ecosystem goods and services (EGS), such as drinking water supply and recreation (e.g., boating, fishing). Absent in the DU concept are supporting or regulating services, which results in disjointed and often ineffective aquatic ecosystem protection and restoration strategies. The focus on discrete sets of water quality parameters in the DU concept can often result in the appearance of conflicting DUs, resulting in poor provisioning of certain DUs. We present a framework that uses EGS to provide a more holistic assessment of DUs and to help inform best management practices that could result in fuller attainment of DUs while providing greater provisioning of desired goods and services. Two case studies are discussed, demonstrating some of the issues with the DU concept, how it is implemented in the United States, and how the EGS framework can provide a crosswalk between the DU paradigm and stakeholder goals for a watershed. A process is presented that could help regulatory agencies and stakeholders make better use of the EGS framework in DU decisions, including watershed protection and restoration. The EGS framework presented here, coupled with a watershed stakeholder process focused on developing an integrative management strategy based on the framework, could help achieve multiple beneficial uses in an aquatic system. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:808–818. © 2019 SETAC. Key Points DUs are similar to provisioning EGS (e.g., clean water for swimming) while regulating and supporting services are not generally incorporated into DUs resulting in unlikely achievement of DUs as intended. DUs for a waterbody are often in conflict with each other in urbanized or agricultural landscapes and management of these waterbodies are often outside of the DU paradigm, which can be improved using an EGS framework. We present a framework that explicitly incorporates EGS into DU assessments, informs watershed management and the development of appropriate watershed implementation plans including total maximum daily loads. This framework can help address competing goals and a mismatch of desired outcomes with DUs.