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Timing, uncertainty, and opportunity cost: Lessons for ecosystem modification on the Colorado River.

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Title: Timing, uncertainty, and opportunity cost: Lessons for ecosystem modification on the Colorado River.
Authors: Donovan, Pierce1 (AUTHOR) pierce.donovan@unr.edu, Bair, Lucas S.2 (AUTHOR), Reimer, Matthew N.3 (AUTHOR), Springborn, Michael R.4 (AUTHOR), Yackulic, Charles B.2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Environmental Economics & Management. Jun2026, Vol. 138, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms: *Ecological engineering, *Watersheds, *Environmental protection, Opportunity costs, Uncertainty (Information theory), Acquisition of data, Population viability analysis
Geographic Terms: Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)
Abstract: While conservation goals have long been pursued through traditional species-augmenting actions, a broader set of episodic ecosystem modification (EEM) actions, such as hydropower dam releases, prescribed fire, and beach nourishment, is garnering attention. EEM actions face several implementation challenges stemming from high opportunity costs, delayed effect mechanisms, reliance on monitoring for deployment timing, and outcome uncertainty due to infrequent use. In this paper, we study the use of EEM actions in the form of designer flows—ecologically-motivated releases of water into regulated river segments—to maintain a viable population of a threatened native fish species in the Colorado River. We demonstrate how the cost-effectiveness of EEM actions can be hampered by the complex and delayed effects on species viability, but enhanced through targeted monitoring for timing deployment and experimentation for reducing uncertainty about effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: GreenFILE
Description
Abstract:While conservation goals have long been pursued through traditional species-augmenting actions, a broader set of episodic ecosystem modification (EEM) actions, such as hydropower dam releases, prescribed fire, and beach nourishment, is garnering attention. EEM actions face several implementation challenges stemming from high opportunity costs, delayed effect mechanisms, reliance on monitoring for deployment timing, and outcome uncertainty due to infrequent use. In this paper, we study the use of EEM actions in the form of designer flows—ecologically-motivated releases of water into regulated river segments—to maintain a viable population of a threatened native fish species in the Colorado River. We demonstrate how the cost-effectiveness of EEM actions can be hampered by the complex and delayed effects on species viability, but enhanced through targeted monitoring for timing deployment and experimentation for reducing uncertainty about effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00950696
DOI:10.1016/j.jeem.2026.103358