The DPSIR Framework and a Pressure-Oriented Water Quality Monitoring Approach to Ecological River Restoration

Abstract:We critically analyzed a set of ecological models that are used to assess the impact of hydropower dams on water quality and habitat suitability for biological communities. After a literature search, we developed an integrated conceptual model that illustrates the linkages between the main input variables, model approaches, the output variables and biotic-abiotic interactions in the ecosystems related to hydropower dams. We found that variations in water flow and water depth coupled with increased nutrient availability are major variables that contribute to structural and functional ecosystem changes. We also found that ecological models are an important tool to assess the impact of hydropower dams. For instance, model simulation of different scenarios (e.g., with and without the dam, different operation methods) can analyze and predict the related ecosystem shifts. However, one of the remaining shortcomings of these models is the limited capacity to separate dam-related impacts from other anthropogenic influences (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). Moreover, collecting sufficient high-quality data to increase the statistical power remains a challenge. The severely altered conditions (e.g., generation of very deep lakes) also lead to difficulties for standardized data collection. We see future opportunities in the integration of models to improve the understanding of the different processes affected by hydropower dam development and operation, as well as the use of remote sensing methods for data collection.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Section: Water Balances For Water Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecosystem equilibrium is termed GES by the European Commission and is defined by EQSs, with 'significant impacts' indicating conditions exceeding EQSs. This meets the concern of Song and Frostell [36] (p. 677) to move towards a pressure-oriented approach, with an economy-environment analysis that requires us "to systematically trace pollutant fluxes between the socio-economic system and river water systems". Borja et al [37] explains this in a more practical four-step process: (1) describing the driving forces; (2) identifying ('significant') pressures and their impacts on the water body and water uses, considering the magnitude of the pressures and the susceptibility of the water body; (3) assessing the impact; and (4) evaluating the risk of failing the objectives.…”

Section: Water Balances For Water Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Using DPSIR and Balances to Support Water Governance

Vannevel

2018

Abstract:The DPSIR framework has proven to be an effective communication tool, but has become subject to criticism upon increasing practical application. It is assumed that this is the consequence of the combination of terminological unclarity, absence of a methodological description for analyzing disturbances, and a confined conceptual basis when dealing with complex environmental issues. DPSIR has been embedded within the broader conceptual Pentatope Model (PTM), by making use of an 'interface' called GASI. GASI, which means Governance by Actor-Subject Impact Assessment, deals explicitly with governance as a framework and impact analysis as a process. The result is an extended version of DPSIR. Illustrated by means of a water balance, the importance of a combined PTM-GASI-DPSIR tool for impact assessments to support evidence-based governance is shown.

“…The rMQI is an enhanced protocol in comparison to morphological pressure-alteration indicators used in RoHYMO: (1) rMQI is generally status-oriented [67] and includes 12 pressure indicators and 21 alteration indicators (10 for channel adjustments and 11 for functionality); (2) RoHYMO is mostly pressure-oriented [67] and includes 5 pressure indicators, and 2 alteration indicators (for channel adjustments). For these pressure indicators, two are comparable if we take into account their purpose (i.e., damming, levees).…”

Section: Usefulness Of Rmqi For River Morphological Quality Assessmenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Pressure and Alteration Indicators to Assess River Morphological Quality: Case Study of the Prahova River (Romania)

Ioana-Toroimac

Zaharia

Minea

2015

River morphological quality assessment, derived from quantification of human pressures as well as river channel alteration, is a demand of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in terms of integrating hydromorphological elements in defining ecological status. Our study's aim is to contribute to the hydromorphological evaluation by proposing indicators and separating classes, based on a revisited Morphological Quality Index (rMQI) protocol. The rMQI is based on 12 indicators of human pressures, 10 indicators of channel form adjustments, and 11 indicators of functionality. The rMQI scoring system allows for the quantification of changes when compared to reference conditions, be they undisturbed or nearly undisturbed by human interventions, with absent channel adjustments and a functioning natural river style. We used the lower, meandering sector of the Prahova River to demonstrate our assessment methodology. The Lower Prahova River suffers from a minor local intervention and a diminishing intensity of fluvial processes specific to a meandering style. Meanders geometry was affected by significant changes that included a decrease in the radius of curvature, width and width-to-mean-depth ratio. We concluded that the Lower Prahova River has a good morphological quality, which is rated as second class on a scale of five levels, from natural to severely modified. We recommend an improvement in the OPEN ACCESS Water 2015, 7 2972 hydromorphological evaluation protocol in Romania by additional indicators for morphological alterations specific to each channel pattern.