scholarly journals Both Forest Harvesting and Hydropower Dams Yielded Negative Impact on Low Flow Regimes in the Zagunao River Watershed, Southwest China

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 787
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Jiang ◽  
Mingfang Zhang ◽  
Yiping Hou

Forest harvesting and hydropower dams can significantly affect flow regimes (magnitude, timing, duration, frequency, and variability), resulting in changes in degraded aquatic ecosystems and unstable water supply. Despite numerous studies on the effects of forest harvesting on mean flows, the impact of forest harvesting on flow regimes has been less investigated. A great difficulty lies in separating the hydrological effect of forest harvesting from that of climate variability and other watershed disturbances such hydropower dams. In this study, the Upper Zagunao River watershed (2242 km2) was selected as an example to provide a quantitative assessment of the effects of forest harvesting and hydropower dams on low flow regimes. The key findings include: (1) Forest harvesting led to a significant reduction in the magnitude and return period of low flows, and a significant increment in the variability and duration of low flows; (2) the recovery of low flow regimes occurred 40 years after forest harvesting as forest recovery processed; and (3) hydropower dams caused significant impact on all components of low flow regimes, e.g., a reduction in the magnitude, return period, and timing of low flows, and an increment in the variability and duration of low flows. Our findings highlight the negative impact of both forest harvesting and hydropower dams on low flow regimes in the Upper Zagunao River watershed. A watershed management strategy for offsetting the negative effect of hydropower dams on low flow regimes by restoring hydrological functions of subalpine forests is highly recommended in subalpine watersheds of the Upper Yangtze River.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Saxe ◽  
Terri S. Hogue ◽  
Lauren Hay

Abstract. This research investigates the impact of wildfires on watershed flow regimes, specifically focusing on evaluation of fire events within specified hydroclimatic regions in the western United States. Information on fire events and watershed characteristics were collected through federal and state-level databases and streamflow data were collected from U.S. Geological Survey stream gages. Eighty two watersheds were identified with at least ten years of continuous pre-fire daily streamflow records and five years of continuous post-fire daily flow records. For each watershed, percent change in annual runoff ratio, low-flows, high-flows, peak flows, number of zero flow days, baseflow index, and Richards-Baker flashiness index were calculated using pre- and post-fire periods. The gathered watersheds were divided into nine regions or clusters through k-means clustering and regression models were produced for watersheds grouped by total area burned. The coefficient of determination (R2) was used to determine the accuracy of the resulting models. Results show that low flows, high flows, and peak flows increase significantly in the first two years following a wildfire and decrease over time. Relative response was utilized to scale response variables with respective percent area of watershed burned in order to compare regional differences in watershed response. Watersheds in Cluster 9 (eastern CA, western NV, OR) typically demonstrate a negative relative post-fire response, in that when scaling response to area burned, a slight negative response is observed in flow regimes. Most other watersheds show a positive mean relative response. In addition, regression models show limited correlation between percent watershed burned and streamflow response, implying that other watershed factors strongly influence response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 933 (1) ◽  
pp. 012026
Author(s):  
P Harsanto ◽  
Nursetiawan ◽  
B P Kamiel ◽  
I Cahyani

Abstract Winongo River originates from small rivers on the slopes of Mount Merapi. This creates potential debris floods that will carry material such as sand and gravel, which can cause erosion and sedimentation in rivers. Riverbed erosion is the process of transporting materials on the riverbed that causing the elevation on the riverbed to fall. If the riverbed elevation decreases, it will cause the retaining wall building to become unstable and collaps. If this happens, it will have a negative impact on the people who live along the riverbanks. The impact of erosion and erosion analysis at the bottom of Winongo River is carried out using HEC-RAS 5.0.7. There are 200 cross-sections that had been analyzed. The analysis reveals that the locations have the potential of erosion on the riverbed and the damage that can occur in the riverbank. From the results of the analysis that have been carried out using the 2-year return period (Q2), there are erosion in 9 cross-sections on Winongo River which is located in Bambanglipuro District and Jl. Parangtritis. The depth of erosion that occurs reaches 0.96 m in the cross-section WN 173. The erosion causes damage to the retaining wall, such as cracks, flattening, and collaps.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 11583-11614 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Grandry ◽  
S. Gailliez ◽  
C. Sohier ◽  
A. Verstraete ◽  
A. Degré

Abstract. Being able to estimate low flows at any point of a river is really important nowadays for a good integrated management of rivers. Knowing the magnitude as well as the frequency of such extreme events becomes essential. In order to build a model of low flow calculation, usable in ungauged catchments and which takes also into account low flow frequency, we started with a low flow frequency analysis including a comparison of different distributions. Two-parameter Lognormal and Gamma were the most common distributions that fit low flow data in Wallonia. This was followed by a regionalisation of low flows using 25 different climatic and physical catchment variables, and the development of regression models that can be used to estimate the minimum 7-day average flow for different return periods, using catchment characteristics. The variables the most correlated to specific minimum 7-day average flows were the recession coefficient and percolation, regardless of the return period. The determination coefficients of the models ranged from 0.51 to 0.67 for calibration and from 0.61 to 0.80 for validation. Finally, regression coefficients were logarithmically linked to the return period. This enabled us to develop a single model per region and for the whole study area, in function of the return period. In conclusion, the method developed in this study allows us to estimate low flows in gauged and ungauged catchments of a given region for a given return period. The interest of regionalisation and development of regional models is also discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
R.D. (Dan) Moore ◽  
Stefan Gronsdahl ◽  
Richard McCleary

Paired-catchment studies conducted on small (< 10 km2) rain-dominated catchments revealed that forest harvesting resulted in a period of increased warm-season low flows ranging from less than five years to more than two decades, consistent with the results of stand-level studies and process considerations. Of the five paired-catchment studies in snow-dominated regions, none revealed a statistically significant change in warm-season low flows in the first decade following harvest, although two exhibited non-significant higher flows in August and September and one had lower flows. Two studies, one of rain-dominated catchments and one of snow-dominated catchments, found that summer low flows became more severe (i.e., lower) about two decades or so following harvest. These longer-term results indicate that indices such as equivalent clearcut area, as currently calculated using monotonic recovery curves, may not accurately reflect the nature of post-harvest changes in low flows. Studies focussed on medium to large catchments (tens to thousands of km2 in area) found either no statistically significant relations between warm-season low flows and forest disturbance, or inconsistent responses. Attempts to synthesize existing studies are hampered by the lack of a common low-flow metric among studies, as well as detailed information on post-harvest vegetation changes. Further fieldresearch and process-based modelling is required to help elucidate the underlying processes leading to the results from these paired-catchment studies and to enhance the ability to predict streamflow responses to forest harvesting, especially in the context of a changing climate. KEYWORDS: streamflow; forestry; low flows; fish habitat; hydrologic recovery


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Hulley ◽  
Colin Clarke ◽  
Ed Watt

Low-flow occurrence and magnitude have been documented for Canada using the National Ecological Framework. The low flow database is composed of the 7-day low flow with 2-year return period (7Q2) values for 453 natural flow hydrometric stations with record lengths of at least 30 years; drainage areas ranged from 10 to 30 000 km2. Occurrence zones corresponding to predominant season for annual low flows are associated with ecozones. The ecozone scale was found to be suitable for regional analysis for several ecozones. For some ecozones there were insufficient data for regional analysis and for others finer resolution is required. Regional regression equations were developed for estimating 7Q2 in terms of area for ecozones containing at least 20 stations. The results of this work will help practitioners to identify the season of low flow occurrence and the appropriate method of analysis, and provide a means of estimating 7Q2 for ungauged sites for some ecozones.


1995 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Clausen

The objective of this paper is to determine the most appropriate data collection strategy and analysis techniques which should be used to assess the low flow regime of a catchment. The data used were: a) synchronous discharge measurements during low flow periods, and b) continuous daily flow records. The analyses based on both types of data were able to distinguish different low flow regimes within a 114 km2 Danish catchment. Despite the limited spatial variation in climate and geomorphology there was a high spatial variability in low flows caused by differences in the lithology of sediments. This demonstrates the difficulties in using simple indices of catchment geology in regional low flow estimation. The results highlight the benefits of using synchronous discharge measurements, both for estimating low flows at ungauged sites, and for understanding groundwater flow paths. Analyses of daily flow records from six gauging stations in the catchment showed that a baseflow index was more useful than the flow duration curve for classifying low flow regimes when only short records were available. The paper illustrates the importance of estimating the uncertainty of discharge measurements when interpreting low flow data.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 6833-6866 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Staudinger ◽  
K. Stahl ◽  
J. Seibert ◽  
M. P. Clark ◽  
L. M. Tallaksen

Abstract. Low flows are often poorly reproduced by commonly used hydrological models, which are traditionally designed to meet peak flow situations. Hence, there is a need to improve hydrological models for low flow prediction. This study assessed the impact of model structure on low flow simulations and recession behaviour using the Framework for Understanding Structural Errors (FUSE). FUSE identifies the set of subjective decisions made when building a hydrological model, and provides multiple options for each modeling decision. Altogether 79 models were created and applied to simulate stream flows in the snow dominated headwater catchment Narsjø in Norway (119 km2). All models were calibrated using an automatic optimisation method. The results showed that simulations of summer low flows were poorer than simulations of winter low flows, reflecting the importance of different hydrological processes. The model structure influencing winter low flow simulations is the lower layer architecture, whereas various model structures were identified to influence model performance during summer.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Smettem ◽  
Ning Liu ◽  
Richard Harper ◽  
John Ruprecht

&lt;p&gt;Understanding how summer low flows in a Mediterranean climate are in&amp;#64258;uenced by climate and land use is critical for managing both water resources and in-stream ecohydrological health. The Eucalyptus forest ecosystems of southwestern Australia are experiencing a drying and warming climate, with a regional step decline in rainfall in the mid-1970s. &amp;#160;Reductions in catchment water storage may be exacerbated by the deep rooting habit of key overstorey species (&gt;30 m has been reported), which can buffer against drought during dry years. Root exploitation of deep soil moisture reserves and/or groundwater can accelerate the long term decline in summer low &amp;#64258;ows, with a trend towards more ephemeral &amp;#64258;ow regimes. In contrast, conversion of forests to agricultural land in some catchments can lead to counter-trends of increased low flows due to a rise in groundwater pressure.&amp;#160; These are invariably associated with an increase in stream salinity as regolith stores of salt are mobilized. There has also been extennsive reforestation of farmland in some catchments.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this study we perform a detailed analysis of changes to annual summer seven day low flow trends in perennial catchments and flow duration curves in ephemeral catchments across 39 catchments in south-western Australia that have long term records of runoff, rainfall and land cover.&amp;#160; Results showed that 15% of catchments exhibited increased low flows and 85% decreased flows or decreased flow days since the 1970s.&amp;#160; Significant downward step changes in low flows were observed in 17 catchments (44%). The earliest downward step changes occurred in three catchments between 1981-82 (a lag of one decade after the rainfall decline), with the most recent step changes for five catchments occurring in 2001-2004 (three decades after rainfall decline). &amp;#160;Eleven catchments were already ephemeral in the 1970s, but exhibited continued declines in the number of annual flow days over subsequent decades.&amp;#160; Step changes occur when groundwater becomes disconnected or reconnected to the stream invert, with disconnection associated with rainfall decline and vegetative water use.&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The statistical methods we used in this study can be applied to any catchment in order to aid land and water managers assess the impact of climate change and land cover manipulation on low flow response.&lt;/p&gt;


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 3447-3459 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Staudinger ◽  
K. Stahl ◽  
J. Seibert ◽  
M. P. Clark ◽  
L. M. Tallaksen

Abstract. Low flows are often poorly reproduced by commonly used hydrological models, which are traditionally designed to meet peak flow situations. Hence, there is a need to improve hydrological models for low flow prediction. This study assessed the impact of model structure on low flow simulations and recession behaviour using the Framework for Understanding Structural Errors (FUSE). FUSE identifies the set of subjective decisions made when building a hydrological model and provides multiple options for each modeling decision. Altogether 79 models were created and applied to simulate stream flows in the snow dominated headwater catchment Narsjø in Norway (119 km2). All models were calibrated using an automatic optimisation method. The results showed that simulations of summer low flows were poorer than simulations of winter low flows, reflecting the importance of different hydrological processes. The model structure influencing winter low flow simulations is the lower layer architecture, whereas various model structures were identified to influence model performance during summer.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
A. P. Korzh ◽  
T. V. Zahovalko

Recently, the number of published works devoted to the processes of synanthropization of fauna, is growing like an avalanche, which indicates the extreme urgency of this theme. In our view, the process of forming devices to coexist with human and the results of his life reflects the general tandency of the modern nature evolution. Urbanization is characteristic for such a specific group of animals like amphibians, the evidence of which are numerous literature data. Many researchers use this group to assess the bioindicative quality of the environment. For this aim a variety of indicators are used: from the cellular level of life of organization up to the species composition of the group in different territories. At the same time, the interpretation of the results is not always comparable for different areas and often have significantly different interpretations by experts. Urban environment, primarily due to the contamination is extremely aggressive to amphibians. As a consequence, the urban populations of amphibians may be a change in the demographic structure, affecting the reproductive ability of the population, the disappearance of the most sensitive species or individuals, resizing animals, the appearance of abnormalities in the development, etc. At the same time play an important amphibians in the ecosystems of cities, and some species in these conditions even feel relatively comfortable. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the mechanisms of self-sustaining populations of amphibians in urban environments. To assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the development of amphibian populations were used cognitive modeling using the program Vensim PLE. Cognitive map of the model for urban and suburban habitat conditions were the same. The differences concerned the strength of connections between individual factors (migration, fertility, pollution) and their orientation. In general, factors like pollution, parasites, predators had negative impact on the population, reducing its number. The birth rate, food and migration contributed to raising number of individuals. Some of the factors affected on the strength to of each other as well: the majority of the factors affected the structure of the population, had an influence on the fertility. Thanks to it the model reflects the additive effect of complex of factors on the subsequent status of the population. Proposed and analyzed four scenarios differing strength and duration of exposure. In the first scenario, a one-time contamination occurs and not subsequently repeated. The second and third scenario assumes half board contamination, 1 year (2 scenario) and two years (scenario 3). In the fourth scenario, the pollution affected the population of amphibians constantly. In accordance with the results of simulation, much weaker than the natural populations respond to pollution - have them as an intensive population growth and its disappearance at constant pollution is slow. Changes to other parameters of the model showed that this pollution is the decisive factor -only the constant action leads to a lethal outcome for the populations. All other components of the model have a corrective effect on the population dynamics, without changing its underlying trand. In urban areas due to the heavy impact of pollution maintaining the population is only possible thanks to the migration process – the constant replenishment of diminishing micropopulations of natural reserves. This confirms the assumption that the form of existence metapopulations lake frog in the city. In order to maintain the number of amphibians in urban areas at a high level it is necessary to maintain existing migration routes and the creation of new ones. Insular nature of the placement of suitable habitats in urban areas causes the metapopulation structure of the types of urbanists. Therefore, the process of urbanization is much easier for those species whicht are capable of migration in conditions of city. In the initial stages of settling the city micropopulationis formed by selective mortality of the most susceptible individuals to adverse effects. In future, maintaining the categories of individuals is provided mainly due to migration processes metapopulisation form of the species of existence is supported). It should be noted that the changes in the previous levels are always saved in future. In the case of reorganizations of individuals we of morphology can assume the existence of extremely adverse environmental conditions that threaten the extinction of the micropopulations. 


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