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PREFACE <br />Y <br /> The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to developers <br />j, of small-scale hydroelectric projects on the assessment of instream <br /> flow needs. While numerous methods have been developed to assess the <br /> effects of stream flow regulation on aquatic biota in coldwater <br /> streams in the West, no consensus has been reached regarding their <br /> general applicability, especially to streams in the eastern United <br /> States. Our presentation and review of these methods (Section 2.0) is <br /> intended to provide the reader with general background information <br /> that is the basis for the critical evaluation of the methods (Section <br /> 3.0). The strategy for instream flow assessment presented in Section <br /> 4.0 is, in turn, based on the implicit assumptions, data needs, costs, <br /> and decision-making capabilities of the various methods as discussed <br /> in Section 3.0. <br />r We have restricted the scope of the document in several areas. <br /> Details on the specific procedures to be followed in applying the <br /> methods are not given but are available in the literature cited in <br /> Section 5.0. Moreover, the document is not intended to be a review of <br /> all the literature related to the issue of instream flow. Because <br /> determination of the instream flow needs for fishery resources is the <br /> most difficult and controversial aspect of the instream flow issue, we <br /> have only included those methods that are related to this aspect of <br /> the issue. Consequently, methods developed to assess recreational or <br /> aesthetic needs are not addressed in the document. Finally, the legal <br /> and institutional aspects of the instream flow issue (e.g., <br /> negotiation strategies) are not discussed. <br /> This document is the fifth in a series of reports addressing <br /> environmental issues and small-scale hydroelectric technology that are <br /> being prepared by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. <br /> Department of Energy. The other reports in this series are listed <br /> below and are available from the National Technical Information <br /> Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, <br /> Springfield, Virginia 22161. <br /> v