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Adaptive Management that works...

what is adaptive management?

Adaptive management is often referred to as 'learning by doing'. More fundamentally, adaptive management provides a pathway for proceeding forward with managing complex systems or projects in the face of uncertainty. The classic adaptive management loop consist of five components: 1) Planning, 2) Doing, 3) Evaluation, 4) Learning, and the option to 'Adjust' as needed. That 'adjustment' on the basis of evaluating what was done can lead to adjustment of conceptual models, adjustment of plans or adjustment of actions.

Adaptive management uses the formulation of a plan based on the best available information and articulation of a conceptual model of how the system works with predictions about how it should response to management actions.  One of the hallmarks of good adaptive management is that, multiple competing responses to management actions can be identified prior to actions (i.e. 'DO'ing). A decision/plan can be made on the basis of the predicted response, but if alternative, unforseen, or undeseriable outcome take place instead, management responses  can be identified ahead of time.  This allows competing concerns to be recognized, addressed and used to help craft the plan.
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The classic adaptive management loop.

A simple example

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Example of a simple, temporary V-Notch weir installed to measure flow and address water user's concerns about BDAs impacting their ability to irrigate.
We recently had a project where we were going to install some beaver dam analogs.  Most the science on hydrologic impacts of beaver dam impacts suggests that peak flows are often reduced, that flow is attenuated in temporary storage in ponds and groundwater, and slowly  released out in the weeks and months that follow (often resulting in an increase in baseflows).  However conceptually elegant that sounds, there is still a common perception in the West that any obstruction to flow will impact downstream water users, and that beaver dams will 'steal' water from downstream water users. In this recent project, these concerns almost killed the project. Using adaptive management, we were able to salvage the project. We worked with a concerned downstream water user to better understand their concerns, and their operations (i.e. when they were diverting and how that water impacted their operations and ability to grow late season hay and feed). 

In the end, we disagreed on whether or not the BDAs would negatively impact the water user (i.e. lower late-season base flows impacting their irrigation), versus improve conditions by elevating late season base flows (or produce an immeasurable gain). However, we used the creation of an adaptive management plan to address this concern explicitly and appropriate management response should the downstream water users concerns become realized. In short, we:
  1. Identified our predicted flow response to installation of BDAs and the downstream water user's concern.
  2. Installed some simple V-notch weirs to measure flows upstream and downstream of the project.
  3. Committed to mitigating and, if necessary, removing the BDAs if the flow data shows they are negatively impacting the downstream water user.
This simple adaptive management solution, allowed us to proceed with a 'plan' and 'doing' in the face of uncertainties. Through monitoring the response and outcomes, we will learn and if necessary adjust our actions as appropriate. 

Adaptive MANAGEMENT that is Pragmatic and affordable

In Bouwes et al. (2016) we lay out our vision for how adaptive management can move beyond something only the biggest projects with the healthiest budgets can afford, to something we can and should as routine practice on almost every restoration project.
  • 2016. Bouwes N, Bennett S and Wheaton JM. Adapting Adaptive Management for Testing the Effectiveness of Stream Restoration: An Intensively Monitored Watershed Example. Fisheries. 41: 2: pp. 84-91.  DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2015.1127806
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At left is an example of more specific actions tied to the adaptive management loops. These plans can be cheap to prepare and simple to implement. 

Some examples of our own adaptive management plans

  1. Shahverdian S, Macfarlane WW and Wheaton JM. 2016. MEMO: Westerly Creek Beaver Dam Capacity Assessment: Developing Realistic Expectations for Beaver Dam Activity. Prepared for Muller Engineering Company, Anabranch Solutions, Logan, UT, 24 pp. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34120.93446
  2. Portugal, E., Wheaton, JM., Sorenson, K., Majerova, M., Hunt, B., Bouwes, N. 2015. Hardware Ranch Adaptive Beaver Management Plan. Prepared for Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Logan, Utah. 26 Pages. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29887.30883 
  3. Portugal E., Wheaton, JM., Bouwes, N. 2015. Spring Creek Wetland Area Adaptive Beaver Management Plan. Prepared for Walmart Stores Inc. and the City of Logan. Logan, Utah. 25 Pages. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2075.3361
  4. Wheaton JM. 2013. Scoping Study and Recommendations for an Adaptive Beaver Management Plan. Prepared for Park City  Municipal Corporation. Logan, Utah, 30 pp.  DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.903648.
  5. Wheaton J, Bennett S, Bouwes N, and Camp R. 2012. Asotin Creek Intensively Monitored Watershed: Restoration Plan for North Fork Asotin, South Fork Asotin and Charlie Creeks, Eco Logical Research, Inc., Prepared for Snake River Salmon Recovery Board. Logan, UT, 125 pp. 
  6. Pollock M, Wheaton JM, Bouwes N and Jordan CE. 2011. Working with Beaver to Restore Salmon Habitat in the Bridge Creek Intensively Monitored Watershed: Design Rationale and Hypotheses, Interim Report, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, 63 pp. ​
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solutions

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beaver as restoration partners

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floods as restoration agents

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strategic structural interventions

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Adaptive Management

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riparian restoration

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strategic planning

Connect with US

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  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • About
    • Our Philosophy
    • Low-Tech PBR
    • Nothing is Really New...
    • Community Commitment
    • Research & Development
  • Projects
  • Opportunities
    • Jobs
    • Volunteer Resources
  • Resources
    • External Links >
      • Eco Logical Research, Inc.
      • Wheaton Ecogeomorphology & Topographic Analysis Lab
      • USU Restoration Consortium
      • LTPBR Restoration of Riverscapes Design Manual
  • Employees
    • Employee Resources
    • Project Database
  • Store