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] |
| Copyright of Journal of Environmental Economics & Management is the property of Academic Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 193978118 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Timing, uncertainty, and opportunity cost: Lessons for ecosystem modification on the Colorado River. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Donovan%2C+Pierce%22">Donovan, Pierce</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> pierce.donovan@unr.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bair%2C+Lucas+S%2E%22">Bair, Lucas S.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reimer%2C+Matthew+N%2E%22">Reimer, Matthew N.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Springborn%2C+Michael+R%2E%22">Springborn, Michael R.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yackulic%2C+Charles+B%2E%22">Yackulic, Charles B.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Environmental+Economics+%26+Management%22">Journal of Environmental Economics & Management</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 138, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+engineering%22">Ecological engineering</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Watersheds%22">Watersheds</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+protection%22">Environmental protection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Opportunity+costs%22">Opportunity costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uncertainty+%28Information+theory%29%22">Uncertainty (Information theory)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acquisition+of+data%22">Acquisition of data</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+viability+analysis%22">Population viability analysis</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colorado+River+%28Colo%2E-Mexico%29%22">Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: 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] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Environmental Economics & Management is the property of Academic Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=193978118 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.jeem.2026.103358 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 1 StartPage: N.PAG Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ecological engineering Type: general – SubjectFull: Watersheds Type: general – SubjectFull: Environmental protection Type: general – SubjectFull: Opportunity costs Type: general – SubjectFull: Uncertainty (Information theory) Type: general – SubjectFull: Acquisition of data Type: general – SubjectFull: Population viability analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Timing, uncertainty, and opportunity cost: Lessons for ecosystem modification on the Colorado River. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Donovan, Pierce – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bair, Lucas S. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Reimer, Matthew N. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Springborn, Michael R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yackulic, Charles B. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00950696 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 138 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Environmental Economics & Management Type: main |
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