Quantitative calculation and optimized applications of ecological flow based on nature-based solutions

Fu, Yicheng; Leng, Jiwei; Zhao, Jianing; Na, Yue; Zou, Yanping; Yu, Binxun; Fu, Gensheng; Wu, Wenbin

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126216

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Here, we propose a new concept, CEFs, which could be defined as comprehensive EFs for multiple guilds in view of ecosystem integrity to provide a more thorough physical habitat condition assessment by considering the biotic interactions (Kandziora et al., 2013). The traditional EFs assessment methodology focuses only on single target species or guild, and it has failed to consider the physical habitat requirements of other species or closely related multi‐guilds based on community interaction (Fu et al., 2021; Oyague et al., 2020; Tharme, 2003). As such, they consider only the physical habitat condition for fish, not the biological factors, such as food source (e.g., macroinvertebrates/plankton) or refugia from a predator (e.g., riparian vegetation).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has shown that habitat simulation is a powerful approach for analyzing riverine ecosystems to obtain biotic and abiotic relationships and supports the EFs decision‐making for dam operation (Naderi et al., 2019; Oyague et al., 2020; Shim et al., 2016; Shirvell, 2010). However, such approaches face challenges due to data limitations and a lack of understanding of the interaction among aquatic organisms (Fu et al., 2021; Railsback, 2016). Here, we propose a new concept, CEFs, which could be defined as comprehensive EFs for multiple guilds in view of ecosystem integrity to provide a more thorough physical habitat condition assessment by considering the biotic interactions (Kandziora et al., 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comprehensive Environmental Flows Assessment for Multi‐Guilds in the Riparian Habitats of the Yangtze River

Ban

Wang

et al. 2022

Water Resources Research

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Flow regime changes caused by existing hydraulic infrastructure (e.g., dams, and diversion weirs are evident in all continents of the earth, resulting in irreversible negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems (Nilsson et al., 2005). Over 58,000 large dams and 880,000 small dams are estimated to exist worldwide (J. Wang et al., 2021). The Yangtze River of China is the third longest and most water-rich river system in the world. It is also one of the rivers with the most abundant biodiversity in the world (Huang et al., 2016). However, over 50,000 dams have been built in the Yangtze basin (B. Y. Li et al., 2021). In particular, the huge Three Gorges Dam (TGD), built on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, has tremendous effects on riverine ecosystems in multiple ways, such as the drowning of the channel and riparian habitats within the impounded zone, the alteration of the hydrology and the thermal regime in downstream regions (B. Y. Li et al., 2021). Recently, the biological integrity of the Yangtze River has been degraded dramatically, prompting the Chinese government to issue the Yangtze River protection law for implementing remedial measures to restore the biodiversity of the Yangtze River. These conservation measures include sewage interception, forbidding sand dredging, and banning fishing (Han et al., 2021). Even so, improvement of the ecosystem remains at a limited scale as compared to the tremendous impact caused by the TGD. The optimal ecologically-friendly operation strategy of the TGD reservoir is critically needed for the restoration of the aquatic ecosystem in the Yangtze River (K. B. Chen et al., 2018).Recent research efforts have provided insight into how dams might be strategically operated to partially restore lost ecosystem functions and services (Owusu et al., 2020). The concept of environmental flows (EFs) has been

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Environmental Flows Assessment for Multi‐Guilds in the Riparian Habitats of the Yangtze River

Ban

Wang

et al. 2022

Water Resources Research

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“…This study's purpose is reconstructs the complete biological habitat; therefore, determining ecological flow is crucial. Referring to the scheme of the habitat method in related research (Fu et al 2021), the flow corresponding to the obvious turning point of the Q-WUA curve is taken as the minimum ecological flow of the corresponding stage of the target fish in the original river, and the flow corresponding to the highest point is the appropriate ecological flow. The biological habitats of the juvenile, adult, migration, and spawning stages of the target fish were numerically simulated to estimate the ecological flow in the river more comprehensively and accurately.…”

Section: Ecological Flow Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of habitat quality and ecological flow in a regulated waterway

et al. 2022

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Dam control has changed rivers' hydraulic environment and hydrological rhythm; to explore the causes of fish habitat loss and influence of river regulation in such rivers, the downstream curving reaches of Shaying River were cut off. Grass, silver, and bighead carp were selected as the research targets, the impact of waterway regulation and gravel groups effect in target fish habitat were studied using numerical simulation. The results show that the original channel's hydraulic environment is similar to the artificial channel, and the target fish spawning habitat is limited, which is an important reason for the shortage of fish resources in research area. The reconstructed channel can meet the river's navigation demands and improve the channel's flood discharge capacity. The habitat method was used to estimate the minimum and appropriate ecological flows of the target fish at each growth stages in the original and reconstruction rivers. Under the appropriate ecological flow, the weighted usable area (WAU) of juvenile, migratory, and spawning habitats of target fish in the reconstructed river increased by 168, 24, and 580%, respectively, compared to the original channel, while the WAU of adult fish that preferred slow-water environment decreased by 62%, effectively improving the target fish's spawning environment.

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“…On the basis of hydraulic methods, Tharme [43] and Dunbar et al [44] propose the habitat simulation methods, to meet the requirements of representative species. Starting from the suitable habitat characteristics and the eco-environmental conditions, the habitat simulation methods establish the response relationship between a habitat area and flow through numerical simulation, such as the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) [45,46], Computer-Aided Simulation Model for Instream Flow Requirements in Diverted Stream (CASIMIR) [47,48] and physical habitat simulation model (PHABSIM) [49][50][51]. The methods consider limited river biological species, and encounter difficulty in reflecting the overall situation of a river ecosystem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Simulation of Ecological Flow Based on the Variable Interval Analysis Method

Wei

Xie

Lu³

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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Ecological flow is an important basis for maintaining the structure and function of river ecosystems, and ensuring the sustainable development of economies and societies in river basins. In order to solve the problems of unclear concepts of ecological flow, difficulty in adapting to dynamic changes in demands, and the hydrological conditions and poor operability of calculated results of a practical application, a variable interval analysis method (VIAM) was proposed to calculate the ecological flow. The method comprehensively considered a variety of variable factors, such as spatial–temporal scale changes, hydrological condition changes, ecological service object changes, and calculation method changes. On the basis of a relatively fixed ecological base flow, a variable lifting amount was added to determine the ecological flow, and the ecological flow was a variable interval. Taking the Wei River as an example, the VIAM was validated and applied. With the support of a knowledge visualization integrated platform, the ecological flow simulation system of the Wei River was constructed. The results show that: (1) the VIAM makes the ecological flow calculation more scientific and reasonable, and the ecological flow of the Wei River from the upper reaches to the lower reaches increases gradually under the influence of water inflow, sewage discharge, and erosion and deposition of sediment, and the annual total water demand of the upper limit of ecological flow in a dry year is 1.04 billion m3, 1.63 billion m3, 2.29 billion m3, 4.09 billion m3, and 4.66 billion m3; (2) the variable interval is used to describe the ecological flow, which has strong applicability and operability; (3) the simulation system can quickly adapt to the demand changes in practical application, and provide visual decision support for managers. The VIAM provides new ideas and references for comprehensively promoting the control of the ecological flow.

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Quantitative calculation and optimized applications of ecological flow based on nature-based solutions

Cited by 26 publications

References 28 publications

Comprehensive Environmental Flows Assessment for Multi‐Guilds in the Riparian Habitats of the Yangtze River

Comprehensive Environmental Flows Assessment for Multi‐Guilds in the Riparian Habitats of the Yangtze River

Evaluation of habitat quality and ecological flow in a regulated waterway

Dynamic Simulation of Ecological Flow Based on the Variable Interval Analysis Method

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