Quantitative Assessment of Flow Regime Alteration Using a Revised Range of Variability Methods

Ge, Jinjin; Peng, Wenqi; Huang, Wei; Qu, Xiaodong; Singh, Shailesh Kumar

doi:10.3390/w10050597

Cited by 25 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…It should be noted that many of studies have only used IHA and Range of Variability Approach for analyses of river ecology [48][49][50][51]. The current study represents an improvement of previous research by combining IHA indices with eco-flow metrics (ecosurplus and ecodeficit), which enhances the quantitative nature of the evaluation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Reservoir-Induced Hydrological Alterations Using Ecologically Related Hydrologic Metrics: Case Study in the Beijiang River, China

Wang

et al. 2020

Water

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Anthropogenic activities have a tremendous impact on water ecosystems worldwide, especially in China. To quantitatively evaluate the hydrological alteration connected with aquatic lives and river ecological risks, we took the Beijiang River located in South China as the case study and used ecosurplus (defined as ecological carrying capacity exceeding ecological consumption)/ecodeficit (defined as ecological consumption exceeding carrying capacity) and Indicators of Hydrological Alterations to evaluate hydrological changes. The Ecologically Relevant Hydrologic Indicators were employed to select the key indices of Indicators of Hydrological Alterations, and the eco-environmental water demand calculation provide an effective way for the reservoir operation. Results showed that: (1) High flows contributed more to the ecodeficit, while low flows contributed more to the ecosurplus; (2) the ecodeficit in some parts of the river basin might exceed the ecosurplus after reservoir construction, especially along the main stream; and (3) the determination of eco-environmental water demand is a feasible way for improving the environment by controlling reservoirs. The current study can help guide the optimization of hydrological operation in the basin toward making the ecosystem healthier and has potential to further provide a reference for other basins in terms of hydrological alterations driven by anthropogenic activities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Reservoir-Induced Hydrological Alterations Using Ecologically Related Hydrologic Metrics: Case Study in the Beijiang River, China

Wang

et al. 2020

Water

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“…RVA accepts that it is not possible to maintain the full range of natural streamflow variability in regulated or otherwise affected river systems, but supports efforts to manage hydraulic alterations in a manner that minimizes impacts on natural hydrologic variability and advocates conservation of native aquatic biodiversity and protection of natural ecosystem functions. In recent years, this approach or a revised version was successfully applied by many authors 29 – 32 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka

Munasinghe

Najim

Quadroni

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Our study focused on quantifying the alterations of streamflow at a weir site due to the construction of a mini-hydropower plant in the Gurugoda Oya (Sri Lanka), and evaluating the spatial responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to altered flow regime. The HEC–HMS 3.5 model was applied to the Gurugoda Oya sub-catchment to generate streamflows for the time period 1991–2013. Pre-weir flows were compared to post-weir flows with 32 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration using the range of variability approach (RVA). Concurrently, six study sites were established upstream and downstream of the weir, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly from May to November 2013 (during the wet season). The key water physico-chemical parameters were also determined. RVA analysis showed that environmental flow was not maintained below the weir. The mean rate of non-attainment was ~ 45% suggesting a moderate level of hydrologic alteration. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed between the study sites located above and below the weir, with a richness reduction due to water diversion. The spatial distribution of zoobenthic fauna was governed by water depth, dissolved oxygen content and volume flow rate. Our work provides first evidence on the effects of small hydropower on river ecosystem in a largely understudied region. Studies like this are important to setting-up adequate e-flows.

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“…More than 170 indicators are available in the literature for the quantification of the hydrologic alteration [17,18]. Among them, many of the indicators are only used to study specific parameters like monthly peak flow or duration of flow [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrologic Alteration at the Upper and Middle Part of the Yangtze River, China: Towards Sustainable Water Resource Management Under Increasing Water Exploitation

Ali

Kuriqi

Abubaker³

et al. 2019

Sustainability

116

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The human influence on the river ecosystem has increased in recent years to feed the growing demand for water to communities by constructing different water structures. It is essential to understand the potential impacts of water structures on river hydrologic regimes. Thus, this study investigates the influence of the cascade dams located upstream of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River on the river ecosystem. The study was carried out for the period 2003–2015 for both Cuntan and Miaohe stations. The analysis was conducted considering two periods, pre-impact; before the dam construction and post-impact; after the dam construction. The assessment was carried out using “Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration.” The results of this study revealed that the cascade dams built upstream of Three Gorges Dam has both positive and negative impacts at both stations. Flows were found to have positive impacts in July while low in October for both stations. The 1-day minimum flows were found to decrease by 7% over Miaohe Station while the 1-day maximum was decreased up to 2% in Cuntan. Overall, the results of the study indicate that there are undesirable impacts which should be adjusted to maintain the river ecosystem at an acceptable level compared to its natural state. It is expected that the findings of the study can guide water managers to adjust the hydropower operation sustainably.

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Quantitative Assessment of Flow Regime Alteration Using a Revised Range of Variability Methods

Cited by 25 publications

References 59 publications

Reservoir-Induced Hydrological Alterations Using Ecologically Related Hydrologic Metrics: Case Study in the Beijiang River, China

Reservoir-Induced Hydrological Alterations Using Ecologically Related Hydrologic Metrics: Case Study in the Beijiang River, China

Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka

Hydrologic Alteration at the Upper and Middle Part of the Yangtze River, China: Towards Sustainable Water Resource Management Under Increasing Water Exploitation

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