The concept that a river has a natural flow regime upon which its ecological integrity depends has been firmly established (Poff and others, 1997). Historically, streamflow standards have been based on a minimum flow regime with no or little natural variability. "In 2005 the Connecticut legislature passed an act expanding existing environmental flow protection to all streams in the state (previously they covered only stocked streams) and required DEP1 to establish flow regulations to "preserve and protect the natural aquatic life" (State of Connecticut, 2009) and be based, to the maximum extent practicable, on natural variation of flows and water levels while providing for the needs and requirements of public health, flood control, industry, public utilities, water supply, public safety, agriculture, and other lawful uses of such waters." (Smith, 2009).