FlowRegEnvCost: An R Package for Assessing the Environmental Cost of River Flow Regulation

FlowRegEnvCost is an R package developed for evaluating the environmental costs of river flow regulation. The methods for calculating the costs are separated in three steps: (i) measuring the admissible range of variability of regulated river flow based on flow data during the period before the impact, (ii) measuring the environmental impact of regulated flows on a daily basis according to the resulting hydrological change in terms of the magnitude, duration, and frequency of the impact, and (iii) estimating the environmental costs associated to flow regulation subject to spatiotemporal characteristics. The method is based on the “polluter pays” principle, i.e., the estimated cost should be proportional to the resulting impact on the environment. This paper presents FlowRegEnvCost and applies the methodology in the Esla River case study, in Spain. FlowRegEnvCost enlarges the current recognition of the environmental costs and represents an easy-to-use and transparent management tool for accomplishing the goals of the Water Framework Directive.