reduction in establishing MFLs assures protection of the natural hydrograph (Flannery et al.

2002, Kelly at al. 2005a, b, c).

 In Florida, regional Water Management Districts, by virtue of their responsibility to permit

the consumptive use of water and a legislative mandate to protect water resources from

"significant harm" have been directed to establish MFLs for streams and rivers within their

boundaries (Section 373.042, Florida Statutes; Munson et al. 2005). The Southwest Florida

Water Management District has developed methods for establishing MFLs that acknowledge the

importance of seasonal flow regimes, including flows necessary for floodplain inundation. A

temporal measure of habitat loss based on changes in inundation is used to develop minimum

flows for seasonal high-flow periods. An alternative approach, employing a measure of spatial

loss, by examining the change in top width at each cross section in the model under different

flow conditions, is also explored. The use of a temporal measure of habitat loss for establishing

MFLs during high flows is compared to the spatial loss of habitat for the same flow reduction.

The applicability of both is discussed and the results compared to determine which is more

restrictive in terms of allowable flow reduction.

 The Alafia River, Myakka River and Peace River are used in this chapter to illustrate the

temporal approach to quantifying habitat change associated with temporal difference in

floodplain inundation patterns (Figure 3-1). All three rivers are located in southwest Florida.

The Alafia River originates as a series of creeks that combine to form two branches of the Alafia

River know and the North Prong and the South Prong. The North prong drains a swampy area

and is characterized by low-lying wetlands. The South Prong is drains a highly mined area and

is more incised. The Alafia River downstream of the confluence is more highly incised as well.

The Alafia River above the Lithia gage (USGS# 02301500) drains approximately 335 mi^2. The