Systems models to improve ecosystems often identify flows to meet minimum instream flow requirements or minimize deviations from a predefined flow regime. Here, we present a new systems optimization model that determines when, where, and how much to allocate scarce water, financial resources, and revegetation efforts to improve aquatic, floodplain, and wetland habitat areas and quality. This optimization is subject to constraints on water mass balance, vegetation growth, infrastructure capacities, and meeting existing agricultural and urban water demands. We followed a participatory approach to apply and validate our model in the Lower Bear River watershed, UT. Results show that increasing winter reservoir releases, minimizing spring spills, and planting native floodplain vegetation early in the growing season can increase suitable habitat area beyond managing water alone. Additional flow on the Little Bear River between August and December will most increase habitat area and quality compared to other locations.

用于改善生态系统的系统模型通常会确定流量，以满足最低的进水流量要求或将与预定流量状态的偏差最小化。在这里，我们提出了一个新的系统优化模型，该模型确定何时，在何处以及以多少分配稀缺的水，财政资源以及重新植被以改善水生，洪泛区和湿地栖息地的面积和质量。这种优化受到水质平衡，植被生长，基础设施容量以及满足现有农业和城市用水需求的限制。我们采用参与式方法在犹他州下熊河流域应用和验证我们的模型。结果表明，冬季水库释放量增加，春季溢漏最小化，在生长期早期种植洪泛区植被可以增加合适的栖息地面积，而不仅仅是单独管理水资源。与其他地点相比，8月至12月在小熊河上的额外流量将最大程度地增加栖息地面积和质量。