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-- 260 Flooding and Aquatic Ecosystems Table 9.8. Primary considerations for maintaining or enhancing the integrity of river-floodplain ecosystems Physical considerations Water supply (quantity of surface water or groundwater) Frequency of inundation River elevation and discharge when floodplain becomes inundated Water depth and duration Control of water exchange and levels in floodplain habitats Water temperature (range and potential for manipulation) Sediment deposition and erosion Biological considerations Ecosystem approach Goals and objectives for preservation or enhancement of river-floodplain ecosystem Status and trends of native and nonnative species Reintroductions of captive-reared animals Maintaining genetic integrity and diversity Need for imprinting larval or young fish to source water Batch marks to identify captive-reared animals Size of captive-reared animals at release Timing of release (diel and seasonal) Proper food (e.g., size and abundance) for various life stages; availability for reintroductions Access and exit routes for animals Vegetative cover Control of predators and competitors Nonnative fish, macroinvertebrates, birds, mammals, or other animals Chemical considerations Acceptable water quality Chemistry, dissolved oxygen. potential for nitrogen supersaturation from well water Potential contaminants Selenium, heavy metals, pesticides or herbicides Economic, political, and sociological considerations Cultural attitudes, perceptions. values Uses of floodplain habitats (human occupation, agriculture. livestock grazing. gravel mining, etc.) Upland activities (agriculture. logging. mining. etc.) is not available (Ludwig et al., 1993), a systems approach applying adap- tive management (Walters and HiIlborn, 1978; Walters, 1986) allows ac- tions to be taken based on the best available information while allow- . ing for refinement or adjustments as pertinent new information becomes available. Intelligent management of ecosystems must involve careful considera- tion of uses, alternatives, and potential ecological impacts to ensure com- patibility among multiple uses of any natural resource ( Gore and Petts, 1989; Goldman. 1973; McCloskey, 1973). Natural resource managers can use effective public relations principles to inform the public (Cutler, 1974) and influence politicians in achieving a suitable balance in maintaining ecological function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems while meeting the needs of society (Gilbert, 1971; DingeIl, 1972).