Assessment of the effects of check-dams on riparian vegetation in the mediterranean environment: A methodological approach and example application

Bombino, Giuseppe; Tamburino, Vincenzo; Zimbone, Santo Marcello

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2006.01.005

Cited by 59 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The sediment retained by the dams provides a unique opportunity for high-yield croplands or orchards. A positive influence of check-dams on the riparian vegetation is reported by Bombino et al (2006), who found a longitudinal diversification of vegetation types and creation of new habitats for biological and ecological communities, attributed to the geometric characteristics of check-dams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The impact of land use change and check‐dams on catchment sediment yield

Boix‐Fayos

Vente

Martínez-Mena

et al. 2008

Hydrological Processes

207

154

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Abstract:Extensive land use changes have occurred in many areas of SE Spain as a result of reforestation and the abandonment of agricultural activities. Parallel to this the Spanish Administration spends large funds on hydrological control works to reduce erosion and sediment transport. However, it remains untested how these large land use changes affect the erosion processes at the catchment scale and if the hydrological control works efficiently reduce sediment export. A combination of field work, mapping and modelling was used to test the influence of land use scenarios with and without sediment control structures (check-dams) on sediment yield at the catchment scale. The study catchment is located in SE Spain and suffered important land use changes, increasing the forest cover 3-fold and decreasing the agricultural land 2Ð5-fold from 1956 to 1997. In addition 58 check-dams were constructed in the catchment in the 1970s accompanying reforestation works.The erosion model WATEM-SEDEM was applied using six land use scenarios: land use in 1956, 1981 and 1997, each with and without check-dams. Calibration of the model provided a model efficiency of 0Ð84 for absolute sediment yield. Model application showed that in a scenario without check dams, the land use changes between 1956 and 1997 caused a progressive decrease in sediment yield of 54%. In a scenario without land use changes but with check-dams, about 77% of the sediment yield was retained behind the dams. Check-dams can be efficient sediment control measures, but with a short-lived effect. They have important side-effects, such as inducing channel erosion downstream. While also having side-effects, land use changes can have important long-term effects on sediment yield. The application of either land use changes (i.e. reforestation) or check-dams to control sediment yield depends on the objective of the management and the specific environmental conditions of each area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The impact of land use change and check‐dams on catchment sediment yield

Boix‐Fayos

Vente

Martínez-Mena

et al. 2008

Hydrological Processes

207

154

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“…It has been concluded that the check dams captured sediments and led to a decrease in the longitudinal gradient upstream, but accelerated downstream erosion because of the increased flow transport capacity and scour processes. 1,4,5 Bombino et al 6 addressed statistically significant differences in channel form, sediment, and vegetation among the upper, the lower reaches, and the intermediate sections of check dams in Southern Italian catchment. A reducing rate of 77% sediment yield by check dams has been reported by Boix-Fayos et al 2 in the Rogativa catchment of SE Spain.…”

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confidence: 99%

Check dam identification using multisource data and their effects on streamflow and sediment load in a Chinese Loess Plateau catchment

Tian

Zhao

et al. 2013

J. Appl. Remote Sens

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Abstract. During the recent six decades, numerous check dams have been constructed for soil erosion control and agricultural production, and have become the key measure for soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau. Obtaining check dam information is very important for soil erosion control and river basin management. This study utilizes remote-sensing images in conjunction with Google Earth images and field survey to derive the spatial distribution of the check dams in the Huangfuchuan catchment. Multisource data including topographic maps, Landsat images, and images from Google Earth are collected for check dam identification. The results are verified based on a field survey. The water surface area of the check dams derives from in situ measurement and images present good relationship with the high correlation coefficient of 0.96. Furthermore, the area extent and number of check dams derived from the remote sensing images are similar to those from Google Earth images. Historically, an increase in the check dam number, controlled area, and storage capacity indicate their substantial trapping effects on streamflow and sediment load in the Huangfuchuan catchment. This study may be a good reference for proposing an efficient approach to identify the check dams and provide decision supports for soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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“…Por tanto, en el corto plazo, la construcción de diques tiene efectos positivos para el control de los sedimentos (Martín-Rosales et al, 2003), pero debe considerarse como una medida temporal, que debe ser acompañada con actuaciones de repoblación con especies fundamentalmente leñosas que ayuden a conseguir un control a largo plazo. De hecho, esta combinación de actuaciones tiene efectos positivos sobre la vegetación ribereña, de acuerdo con Bombino et al (2006), que encuentran una diversificación longitudinal de los tipos de vegetación y la creación de nuevos hábitats para las comunidades biológicas y ecológicas. Así mismo, es necesario considerar la distinta repercusión de estas hidrotecnias en corrientes naturales y en zona de "badlands" o torrentes generados por una acción antrópica descontrolada.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified