Water Quality Improvement Through an Integrated Approach to Point and Non-Point Sources Pollution and Management of River Floodplain Wetlands

Kiedrzyńska, Edyta; Zalewski, Maciej

doi:10.5772/34820

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Wetlands represent diverse aquatic environments that exhibit a high spatial heterogeneity and biologic richness. In addition, periodic floods influence the structure and function of these ecosystems (Zalewski et al 1998;Kiedrzyńska and Zalewski 2012). Valuable environmental functions-such as the retention of nutrients and organic matter, and the processes of degradation and transformation into biomass-take place in these unique areas, shortening the spiraling nutrient loop (Reddy et al 1999;Hein et al 2005;Zalewski 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of hydraulic works and wetlands function in the Salado-River basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Bazzuri

Gabellone

Solari

2018

Environ Monit Assess

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Man-made activities exert great influences on fluvial ecosystems, with lowland rivers being substantially modified through agricultural land use and populations. The recent construction of drainage canals in the upper stretch of the Salado-River basin caused the mobilization of huge amounts of salts formerly stored in the groundwater. The main aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the discharges of those canals into the Salado-River water, under different hydrologic conditions, and the role of the wetlands and shallow lakes placed along the canals' system. Physicochemical variables were measured and water samples were taken during times of high water, mean flows, drought, and extreme drought. The environmental variables and the plankton development were related to the hydrologic regime and reached minimum values during floods because of low temperatures and dilution. Local effects on the water's ionic composition became pronounced during droughts because of groundwater input. Nutrient concentrations were mainly associated with point wastewater discharges. Conductivity, ion concentrations, total plankton biomass, and species richness increased in the Salado-River downstream site, after the canals' discharges. The artificial-drainage system definitely promotes the incorporation of salts into the Salado-River basin. In this scenario, a careful hydraulic management is needed to take into account this issue of secondary salinization that threatens the economic exploitation of the region. The wetlands present in this study acted as service environments not only helping to reduce salt, nutrient, and suspended-solid concentrations downstream but also contributing a plethora of species and plankton biomass into the Salado-River main course.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of hydraulic works and wetlands function in the Salado-River basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Bazzuri

Gabellone

Solari

2018

Environ Monit Assess

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“…The ecosystem services provided by wetlands and streams can offer several co-benefits beyond flood reduction, including less erosion, less pollution by farm pesticides and herbicides, less water-borne animal or human waste, better fish and shellfish habitat, and improved drinking water. Understanding the role of ecohydrology in stream and wetland management practices, which focuses on the ecological processes that occur within the water cycle, is crucial for maximizing co-benefits of these practices; adopting an ecohydrological framework in wetland and stream restoration can help reduce the transportation of sediments and pollutants by flood waters [130]. The use of this framework in best management practices guides the amplification of water quality benefits.…”

Section: Implications For the North Carolina Coastal Plainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Infrastructure Practices as Potential Flood Storage and Reduction for Farms and Rural Communities in the North Carolina Coastal Plain

et al. 2021

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Increased global temperatures resulting from anthropogenically induced climate changes have increased the frequency and severity of adverse weather events, including extreme rainfall events, floods, and droughts. In recent years, nature-based solutions (NBS) have been proposed to retain storm runoff temporarily and mitigate flood damages. These practices may help rural farm and forest lands to store runoff and reduce flooding on farms and downstream communities and could be incorporated into a conservation program to provide payments for these efforts, which would supplement traditional farm incomes. Despite their potential, there have been very few methodical assessments and detailed summaries of NBS to date. We identified and summarized potential flood reduction practices for the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. These include agricultural practices of (1) cover cropping/no-till farming; (2) hardpan breakup; (3) pine or (4) hardwood afforestation, and (5) agroforestry; establishing the wetland and stream practices of (6) grass and sedge wetlands and earthen retention structures, (7) forest wetland banks, and (8) stream channel restoration; and establishing new structural solutions of (9) dry dams and berms (water farming) and (10) tile drainage and water retention. These practices offer different water holding and storage capacities and costs. A mixture of practices at the farm and landscape level can be implemented for floodwater retention and attenuation and damage reduction, as well as for providing additional farm and forest ecosystem services.

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“…The importance of natural river floodplains and ecotones for river self-purification and water quality improvement has been discussed by Bayley (1995), Zalewski (2006), Mitsch and Gosselink (2007), Kiedrzyńska et al (2008a, b), Kiedrzyńska and Zalewski (2012), Skłod-owski et al (2014). River floodplains can absorb and retain sediment, nutrients and micropollutants such as dioxins during stable hydrological conditions, and especially when water retained during floods.…”

Section: Floodplains For Water Quality Improvementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable floodplain management for flood prevention and water quality improvement

2014

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Although it is not possible to completely eliminate flooding in an era of climate change and intensification of extreme weather events, effective flood prevention and management in river floodplains may make a significant contribution. The land use characteristics of a catchment and river valley determine, to a great extent, the functioning of a river floodplain, as well as the quantity and size of the flood pulses in the river. The paper is focused on the role played by ecohydrology in flood risk management and water quality. From the ecohydrological perspective, river floodplains are extremely important and capacious ecosystems which, being periodically flooded, absorb flood and pollutant peaks and may minimise the danger of flooding. Increased natural water retention capacity in floodplain areas and the whole basin in the face of progressive climate change is possible through three routes: the modelling of the hydrological budget of the catchment towards the sustainable ecohydrological management of floodplains, the optimal use of existing hydrotechnical infrastructure and the implementation of ecohydrological biotechnologies. Furthermore, with such a holistic perspective, the role of river floodplains is one that also enhances the resilience of the river basin against climate and anthropogenic change, as well as increasing flood safety, improving water quality and increasing its ecosystem services for society.

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Water Quality Improvement Through an Integrated Approach to Point and Non-Point Sources Pollution and Management of River Floodplain Wetlands

Cited by 6 publications

References 57 publications

The effects of hydraulic works and wetlands function in the Salado-River basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

The effects of hydraulic works and wetlands function in the Salado-River basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Natural Infrastructure Practices as Potential Flood Storage and Reduction for Farms and Rural Communities in the North Carolina Coastal Plain

Sustainable floodplain management for flood prevention and water quality improvement

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