Constructing a Conceptual Model Linking Drivers and Ecosystem Services in Piedmont Streams

Under rapid land use change, high demand on freshwater ecosystem services, and a growing appreciation for the value of functioning ecosystems, the Appalachian Piedmont has developed a multi-million dollar stream restoration industry. A comprehensive understanding of ecosystem structure, function, and process is necessary to effectively plan, design, monitor, and adaptively manage these projects. Furthermore, funding agencies must justify their restoration investments in terms of environmental benefits and ecosystem services provided by a single project as well as a suite of projects. To this end, this paper presents a Piedmont stream conceptual model mapping common system drivers and stressors to the ecosystem services they affect. We focus only on the supply of ecosystem services and not demand for those services. This paper will (1) discuss the role of conceptual modeling in stream restoration, (2) present a suite of conceptual models for Piedmont streams with increasing levels of detail, (3) briefly demonstrate application of the these models, and (4) highlight areas of need for future model development activities.