The environmental demand node can be set up as an in-stream requirement (as shown in Figure 1), where the node acts as a minimum flow requirement node. This ensures that there is sufficient flow to meet environmental demands.
Figure 1. Environmental demand, in-stream requirement
In conceptualisation a), both the river channel and floodplain are represented in the storage routing parameters contained in the link between the Environmental Demand 2 and Gauge 3. This way, you can define both in-stream and floodplain flow requirements at the EDM.
In conceptualisation b) the floodplain has been defined as a storage and the water flux between the floodplain and channel has been described through a wetland. The placement of the environmental demand node allows you to define both in-stream and floodplain flow requirements at the EDM, however the floodplain requirement will be related to the relationship in the hydraulic connector node to force flow in the river channel to flow into the floodplain storage.