Development of a revised method for indicators of hydrologic alteration for analyzing the cumulative impacts of cascading reservoirs on flow regime

Abstract

Abstract. The impacts of reservoirs, especially multiple reservoirs, on the flow regimes and ecosystems of rivers have received increasing attention. The most widely used metrics to quantify the characteristics of flow regime alterations are the indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHAs) which include 33 parameters. Due to the difference in the degree of alteration and the intercorrelation among IHA parameters, the conventional method of evaluating IHA parameters that assigns the same weight to each indicator is obviously inadequate. A revised IHA method is proposed by utilizing the projection pursuit (PP) and real-coded accelerated genetic algorithm (RAGA). Data reliability is analyzed by using the length of record (LOR) method. The projection values reflecting the comprehensive characteristics of the evaluation parameters are calculated. Based on these methods, a scientific and reliable evaluation of the cumulative impacts of cascading reservoirs on the flow regime was made by examining the Jinsha River. The results showed that with the increase in the number of reservoirs, the alteration degrees of IHA parameters gradually increased in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 but decreased in group 5 (each group addresses the magnitude, timing, frequency, duration and rate of change in turn), and the flow duration curves showed a declining trend at the high-flow part and an increasing trend at the low-flow part. The flow regime alteration of the outlet section was more stable than before. This change had a negative impact on downstream fish reproduction and ecological protection. An attempt at ecological regulation was made to simulate the natural rising process of water, and four major Chinese carps have a positive response to the flood peak process caused by manual regulation.

Potential Climate Impacts of Hydrological Alterations and Discharge Variabilities of the Mura, Drava, and Danube Rivers on the Natural Resources of the MDD UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

“…In the analysis of the IHA, separating human impacts from climate impacts on the river regime is very difficult. The IHA method was primarily developed for analyzing hydraulic structures, such as river regulation structures and reservoirs [17][18][19][20][21].…”

Vanishing weekly hydropeaking cycles in American and Canadian rivers

“…Various approaches are commonly used to explore flow alterations in regulated rivers including comparisons of hydrographs pre- and post-regulation 9 , 49 , 50 , trends in peak and/or low flows 51 or of naturalized versus observed (regulated) flows 52 – 54 . A broader approach employs a set of multiple (up to 64) indicators of hydrologic alteration to quantify changes over the water year arising from regulation 55 – 57 . Another method combines hydrological data, reservoir information and a database of large dams in developing river regulation and fragmentation indices with a matrix of impact for application to all major global watersheds 4 , 5 .…”

Vanishing weekly hydropeaking cycles in American and Canadian rivers

“…Various approaches are commonly used to explore flow alterations in regulated rivers including comparisons of hydrographs pre-and postregulation 9,48,49 , trends in peak and/or low flows 50 or of naturalized versus observed (regulated) flows [51][52][53] . A broader approach employs a set of multiple (up to 33) indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA) to quantify changes over the water year arising from regulation [54][55][56] . Another method combines hydrological data, reservoir information and a database of large dams in developing river regulation and fragmentation indices with a matrix of impact for application to all major global watersheds 4,5 .…”