* The use of a temporal measure to assess habitat loss is appropriate since floodplain
 characteristics, at least in part, are derived from fluvial processes.

* LiDAR is a useful tool in the development of digital terrain models.

* Digital terrain models should be used, in conjunction with hydraulic models, to estimate a
 spatial measure of habitat loss.

* GIS offers the opportunity to better estimate inundation in the floodplain as a result of
 over-bank flow, and thus spatial habitat loss, as a result of changes in river flow.

* The use of GIS in determining spatial loss is preferable to the use of cross-sectional data
 because the three dimensional nature of the spatial data resolves some issues of
 characterizing the river corridor with a limited number of cross-sections.

* Hydrology is currently the dominant factor in establishing high-flow MFLs.

* MFLs are intended to protect the aquatic biology and ecology of the river system, though
 to date, biology and ecology have only been minor components in the development of
 high-flow protection standards.

* Current methods of MFL development do not differentiate flow needs based on wetland
 habitat type.

* Better modeling ability, derived from GIS, should allow improved understanding of
 floodplain community structure relative to flow.

 Future Work

 This dissertation has shown that the MFL requirements for riverine floodplains wetlands

are poorly understood. The conceptual importance of over-bank flows has been well

documented but not well quantified. This research pointed out that habitat and change in habitat

can be measured in multiple ways and it explored the use of new technology in measuring habitat

extent. These measures suggest future studies that should be conducted, given the information

presented in this dissertation.

 Spatial loss in river floodplains is inconsistent from river to river while temporal loss is

similar among the three rivers studied and both should be considered in MFL development.

Thus, both spatial and temporal measures should be examined in future MFL determinations.