Coastal Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems are Falling Through Policy Gaps

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Policy Analysis

Background:

• Coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are vital biodiversity hotspots providing essential ecosystem services.
• These ecosystems are threatened by groundwater depletion, climate change, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
• Existing policies for groundwater use and species protection often fail to address GDEs holistically, leading to their decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine policies for managing coastal groundwater and connected ecosystems in Queensland, Australia, and California, USA.
• To identify policy gaps hindering the effective conservation of coastal GDEs.
• To propose solutions for integrated management and policy reform.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis of management strategies in Queensland and California.
• Identification and categorization of policy gaps affecting coastal GDEs.
• Review of existing conservation approaches and their limitations.

Main Results:

• Three universal policy gaps were identified: lack of groundwater system recognition, fragmented governance, and inadequate GDE management guidance.
• Coastal GDE conservation often relies on protected area inclusion or species recovery, neglecting underlying groundwater support.
• Siloed policies create gaps, leading to declining GDE extent and ecological function.

Conclusions:

• Integrated, ecosystem-based management is essential for coordinating disparate agencies and improving coastal GDE conservation.
• Comprehensive policy frameworks are needed to address the land-sea continuum and ensure the long-term sustainability of coastal GDEs.
• Closing policy gaps requires recognizing groundwater systems and adopting holistic management approaches.