Summer Course: Freshwater Ecosystems - Challenges and Solutions to Sustainable Management in a Warmer and Water Limited World

The global climate is warming and intensifying, with more extreme rainfall occurring in shorter periods, alternated by longer and warmer dry periods. This is leading to an increasing occurrence of both floods and droughts. Adaptation and mitigation measures responding to these threats often emphasize engineering solutions to protect against flooding and increase water storage for times of drought. Thus, both the threats (more floods and droughts) and the solutions (greater engineering of freshwater systems) put freshwater ecosystems under increasing pressure. Nature-based solutions, holistic water management, and green infrastructure provide alternative and more ecosystem-friendly options to address the threats. There are, however, many challenges. 

• What are the impacts of the threats and the solutions on freshwater ecosystems?
•  How can freshwater ecosystems be managed sustainably, particularly as societies cope with extreme climate variability? 
• How can good governance and policies support a more sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems and the services they provide in this increasingly water limited world?

Introduction into the challenges of coping with hydrological extremes, in particular floods and droughts under a changing climate, with a focus on the role of ecosystem services. We start with a broad characterisation of global climate variability and the challenges it poses to the sustainable management of freshwater resources and ecosystems. These challenges will be illustrated through case studies with different climatic, physical, and socio-economic settings, including from regions traditionally vulnerable to climate extremes such as Mediterranean regions, as well as from temperate regions where sustainable water management is increasingly difficult due to changing climate. Participants are encouraged to bring their own examples, challenges, and questions to enrich the discussions and insights into challenges faced in practice.

Ecosystem services and restoration: We develop a solid foundation of freshwater ecosystem structure and function, the concepts of ecosystem services, and international approaches to river monitoring and management. This is complemented with an introduction to stream restoration, including nature-based solutions such as floodplain reconnection, environmental flows, natural habitat rehabilitation, and emerging concepts of green infrastructure and river resiliency. 

Ecosystem governance and policy: Good governance and policies are essential to sustainable management of river ecosystems, particularly under exceptional circumstances such as flood and drought. We explore freshwater resource planning and legal aspects, public policy and regulation, as well as institutional aspects and stakeholder involvement. Through a comparative assessment of ecosystem policies in different countries, we develop insight into different paradigms and understanding of current and best practices.

Debates, discussions and groupwork & field trip: We develop the summer school through a highly participatory approach, where you will actively engage in lectures and case study presentations, and work with other participants from diverse backgrounds debating and discussing the different aspects of sustainably managing freshwater ecosystems. Throughout the week, you will work as a group to develop a comparative analysis of different global paradigms, resulting in joint presentations. We will also organise a fieldtrip to experience solutions in practice, to have fun, and have the opportunity to interact with fellow participants.

Instructors from IHE Delft
Micha Werner, read more
Michael McClain, read more

Instructors from the University of California, Davis
Sarah Yarnell, read more
Helen Dahlke, read more
Nicholas Pinter, read more

+additional invited lecturers for case studies and field visits