Benefit-Cost Model for an Artificial Recharge Scenario in the San Joaquin Valley,California

A competitive irrigated agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley of California, under semiarid to arid climate and repetitive drought conditions, relies on groundwater resources to a great extent. As a result of rapid agricultural development and intense operation of ground water resources over the years, the Valley has been exposed to severe land subsidence and pesticide and fertilizer induced ground water contamination problems. In this paper, based on historical drought recurrences in the region, a model of aridity quantification and climatic scenario for the period 2000–2030 is described. Moreover, a schematic economics model is set up to analyze the potential benefits from artificially recharging the underlying aquifer nearby the San Joaquin River, as compared to the ongoing management plans in the Valley. The approach presented in this paper is based on cost assessment simulation and employs weighting coefficients instead of marketing prices. For the climatic scenario considered in this paper, the comparative benefit-cost analysis reveals significant benefits from artificially recharging the aquifer adjacent to the San Joaquin River.     

Effects of Environmental Water Transfers on Stream Temperatures

Low streamflows and warm stream temperatures currently limit habitat and productivity of trout, including native Lahontan cutthroat trout in Nevada's Walker Basin. Environmental water transfers, which market water from willing sellers to instream uses, are evaluated to improve instream habitat. We use River Modelling System, an hourly, one‐dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model, to estimate current and potential environmental water transfer effects on stream temperatures. Model runs simulate a range of environmental water transfers, from 0.14 to 1.41 cms, at diversions and reservoirs for wet year 2011 and dry year 2012. Results indicate that critically warm stream temperatures generally coincide with low flows, and thermal refugia exist in East Walker River, a tributary of the Walker River. Environmental water transfers reduce maximum stream temperatures by up to 3 °C in dry years and are more effective in dry years than wet years. This research suggests that environmental water transfers can enhance instream habitat by improving water quality as well as increasing instream flow. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of hydrologic infrastructure on flow regimes of California's Central Valley rivers: Implications for fish populations

Alteration of natural flow regimes is generally acknowledged to have negative effects on native biota; however, methods for defining ecologically appropriate flow regimes in managed river systems are only beginning to be developed. Understanding how past and present water management has affected rivers is an important part of developing such tools. In this paper, we evaluate how existing hydrologic infrastructure and management affect streamflow characteristics of rivers in the Central Valley, California and discuss those characteristics in the context of habitat requirements of native and alien fishes. We evaluated the effects of water management by comparing observed discharges with estimated discharges assuming no water management (‘full natural runoff’). Rivers in the Sacramento River drainage were characterized by reduced winter–spring discharges and augmented discharges in other months. Rivers in the San Joaquin River drainage were characterized by reduced discharges in all months but particularly in winter and spring. Two largely unaltered streams had hydrographs similar to those based on full natural runoff of the regulated rivers. The reduced discharges in the San Joaquin River drainage streams are favourable for spawning of many alien species, which is consistent with observed patterns of fish distribution and abundance in the Central Valley. However, other factors, such as water temperature, are also important to the relative success of native and alien resident fishes. As water management changes in response to climate change and societal demands, interdisciplinary programs of research and monitoring will be essential for anticipating effects on fishes and to avoid unanticipated ecological outcomes. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow and water temperature simulation for habitat restoration in the Shasta River,California

Low instream flows and high water temperatures are two factors limiting survival of native salmon in California's Shasta River. This study examines the potential to improve fish habitat conditions by better managing water quantity and quality using flow and water temperature simulation to evaluate potential restoration alternatives. This analysis provides a reasonable estimate of current and potential flows and temperatures for a representative dry year (2001) in the Shasta River, California. Results suggest restoring and protecting cool spring‐fed sources provides the most benefit for native salmon species from a broad range of restoration alternatives. Implementing a combination of restoration alternatives further improves instream habitat. Results also indicate that substituting higher quality water can sometimes benefit native species without increasing environmental water allocations. This study shows the importance of focusing on the limitations of specific river systems, rather than systematically increasing instream flow as a one size fits all restoration approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

从荆江引江与丹库引汉“双线并举”优化中线工程

提出南水北调中线以长江为水源的优化方案:后期从荆江引江入汉济黄与一期从丹江口水库引汉双线并举。即引江济汉从三峡坝下的荆江河段引水入沮漳河,经过长湖,利用汉江干流兴隆、碾盘山、崔家营三个梯级枢纽接力抽水至襄樊,实行汉江中下游水资源引清调度,改善水质确保沿江城市饮水安全;然后沿南襄隘道建设鄂豫运河,不经丹江口水库从唐河提水入枣阳吉河水库,自流输水送达方城向引汉总干渠补水与增加直接调水去郑州入黄河。该方案具有水源条件最佳、工程布局最简化、占地少、建设与运营成本低而综合效益大的优点,能充当引汉水源后盾,为治理黄河、打造现代汉江做出更大贡献。     

Socioeconomic Value(s) of Restoring Environmental Flows: Systematic Review and Guidance for Assessment

The preservation of instream flows entails multiple benefits not only for river ecosystems but also for human well‐being. Benefits of marketed goods and services provided by water withdrawals such as irrigation, water supply and hydropower production are well‐known. Others, such as recreational, aesthetic, cultural and existence values of a well‐preserved river flows are less studied. There is an increasing interest of policy makers to understand the benefits of costly river ecosystem restoration measures. Moreover, disregarding such benefits may turn into inter‐stakeholder conflicts. This paper reviews empirically‐based literature assessing environmental flows restoration/conservation. Thus, it offers the state‐of‐the‐art on three aspects: 1) what motivations drive the socioeconomic evaluation of instream flows (policies and alternative instream flow regimes); 2) what values and benefits are associated with instream flows (e.g. the sheer existence of a well‐preserved river, productive assets and cultural attributes); and 3) what methods are employed to undertake such assessments (e.g. scenario development, monetary and non‐monetary valuations, and stakeholders engagement). Building on this, we propose a methodological framework for case‐specific assessments of the restoration of environmental flows. This proposal combines increased stakeholder participation, better understanding of ecosystem functioning, awareness of the plurality of values and an accurate choice of valuation methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南水北调工程受水区水价形成初探

南水北调工程充分发挥预期经济社会效益的关键在于受水区水价改革.分析受水区自来水厂取用当地水和南水北调工程水供水利润的形成,探讨调水工程公益性与市场化问题,提出受水区应逐步提高水资源费征收标准到大于调水工程供水成本,以及调水工程水价应逐步市场化.     

USING A NON‐PHYSICAL BEHAVIOURAL BARRIER TO ALTER MIGRATION ROUTING OF JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON IN THE SACRAMENTO–SAN JOAQUIN RIVER DELTA

Anthropogenic alterations to river systems, such as irrigation and hydroelectric development, can negatively affect fish populations by reducing survival when fish are routed through potentially dangerous locations. Non‐physical barriers using behavioural stimuli are one means of guiding fish away from such locations without obstructing water flow. In the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, we evaluated a bio‐acoustic fish fence (BAFF) composed of strobe lights, sound and a bubble curtain, which was intended to divert juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) away from Georgiana Slough, a low‐survival migration route that branches off the Sacramento River. To quantify fish response to the BAFF, we estimated individual entrainment probabilities from two‐dimensional movement paths of juvenile salmon implanted with acoustic transmitters. Overall, 7.7% of the fish were entrained into Georgiana Slough when the BAFF was on, and 22.3% were entrained when the BAFF was off, but a number of other factors influenced the performance of the BAFF. The effectiveness of the BAFF declined with increasing river discharge, likely because increased water velocities reduced the ability of fish to avoid being swept across the BAFF into Georgiana Slough. The BAFF reduced entrainment probability by up to 40 percentage points near the critical streakline, which defined the streamwise division of flow vectors entering each channel. However, the effect of the BAFF declined moving in either direction away from the critical streakline. Our study shows how fish behaviour and the environment interacted to influence the performance of a non‐physical behavioural barrier in an applied setting. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

跨流域调水水价问题研究

跨流域调水工程作为国民经济的重要基础设施,在国家经济建设中发挥着巨大的社会经济效益,但其自身也面临着持续健康发展的问题,其中水价是跨流域调水工程建设和运行管理中的核心问题之一。论述和介绍了跨流域调水工程投资分摊方法、三部制水价的计收方式、跨流域调水水价测算的层次和重点、供水口门水价的测算原则和内容、调水工程用户水价的测算方法等。用户对调水水价的承受能力,可按水费占工农业产值（或效益）和居民收入的比例及调水工程对水价总水平影响的程度等分析。     

The calculation of riverine ecological instream flows and runoff profit‐loss analysis in a coal mining area of northern China

The northern Shaanxi province of China has severe water shortages, especially in coal mining areas, and it is very important to calculate the riverine ecological instream flows (EIFs) and analyse the runoff profit‐loss situation. Using the Kuye River as a case study, the EIF was calculated for different years and seasons using the instream flows rate (IFR) method and compared with the Tennant and the minimum monthly average flow (MAF) methods. The recommended value of the Kuye River EIF was obtained by an analysis of the results of these three methods. The river runoff profit‐loss situation associated with the EIF was also calculated and the main reason for the loss explained. The Kuye River EIF was calculated to be 1.69 to 11.14 m³/s by the IFR method, 1.94 to 8.50 m³/s by the Tennant method, and 3.81 to 10.87 m³/s by the MAF method. Based on these results, the EIF annual recommended value of the Kuye River was 4.00 m³/s for the 1961–2010 period. The wet season (July–October), average season (March–June), and dry season (November–following Feb) EIFs were 6.50, 3.50, and 2.00 m³/s, respectively. The Kuye River had a large surplus runoff within the EIF prior to1999, but from 1999 to 2010, the runoff and EIF were very close and the April to June average runoff did not meet the EIF. The main factors that affected the river runoff were rainfall, temperature, water and soil conservation, coal mining, and water consumption for industry and domestic use, with coal mining becoming a more important factor since 1999. This case study provides important technical support and guidance for the ecological restoration of the Kuye River basin, and the concept can be applied to other similar coal mining areas.     

Effects of river regulation on water quality in the lower Mokelumne River,California

This study examines the effects of flow regulation on water quantity and quality by comparing an impounded system (Mokelumne River) with an adjacent unimpounded system (Cosumnes River). Between 1999 and 2002, the Cosumnes River displayed a strong seasonal cycle for each constituent analysed (total suspended solids, NO₃‐N, total nitrogen, PO₄‐P, total phosphorus, dissolved silicon, specific conductivity, flow), while reservoirs in the lower Mokelumne buffered and attenuated physical and chemical fluctuations creating a weak seasonal pattern. Dissolved silicon and total suspended solids were the two constituents most efficiently sequestered by the reservoirs. While the reservoirs acted as traps for most constituents, NO₃‐N and PO₄‐P were produced during the drier years of the study, 2001 and 2002. In contrast, the unimpounded reference reach in the Cosumnes was an annual source for all constituents measured. The Cosumnes delivers its highest NO₃‐N concentrations during the winter months (December–April), while peak concentrations in the Mokelumne occur during the snowmelt (May–July) and baseflow (August–November) seasons. Due to downstream N‐limitation, this temporal shift in NO₃‐N export may be contributing to accelerated algal growth in the reach immediately downstream and eventually to algal biomass loading to the downstream Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HYDROPOWER COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS AND CLIMATE WARMING IN CALIFORNIA'S UPPER YUBA RIVER WATERSHED

Understanding the trade‐offs between water for the environment and water for hydropower in regulated rivers can inform decision making about hydropower system planning, policy and operations, especially with anticipated climate warming–induced changes in runoff. This study used a multireservoir optimisation model to assess the hydropower effects of increasing minimum instream flows (MIFs) and imposing weekly scale down ramp rates (DRRs) in three locations in California's Upper Yuba River (UYR). The UYR is currently used for hydropower generation yet has high potential for freshwater habitat restoration. Trade‐offs between DRRs, MIFs and hydropower generation and revenue are explored with uniform air temperature increases of 0 °C, 2 °C, 4 °C and 6 °C to approximate anticipated regional climate warming. With 6 °C warming, the most ecologically beneficial MIF and DRR reduced hydropower generation by 7.9% and revenue by 5.5% compared with base case management and a historical climate. This has important implications for licensure of the UYR project and other hydropower projects, where multiple benefits under current and potential future conditions must be balanced. This study provides a methodological approach that can be used by water managers, regulators and stakeholders to better understand inherent trade‐offs in allocating water for multiple beneficial uses in a nonstationary hydroclimate. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of dams on point bar habitat: a case for the extirpation of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle,C. hirticollis abrupta

Quantitative analyses of flow and stage data, remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis, and field studies were used to assess the impact of dams and diversions on the point bar habitat of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hirticollis abrupta). The reaches of interest include sites of known historic populations of C. h. abrupta along the Sacramento River from approximately 8 km north of Colusa southward to the confluence with the Feather River and along the Feather River between Yuba City and its confluence with the Sacramento River. The results from this study show that construction of two major dams has altered flows such that prolonged and increased flows during summer, fall, and early winter have most likely disrupted life cycles, flooded larvae, drowned overwintering adults and led to high mortality. Additionally, habitat availability has decreased over time because point bars have decreased in number and area causing increased distances between populations and isolation of populations. Moreover, point bar armouring, channel scouring, altered flows, redirected flows through weirs, and lithologic controls have produced a bimodal distribution of mean grain sizes in the Sacramento River in which the more northern bars contain gravel deposits and more southern bars possess fine sands. These conditions negatively alter moisture retention and sediment compaction and, consequently, burrowing conditions needed by this tiger beetle. Additionally, more stabilized flows (reduced variability) and increased fine‐grained deposition have enabled development and encroachment of vegetation onto the sand bars. Finally, human stresses, such as foot traffic and vehicular traffic may have interfered with burrowing, ovipositing, and foraging. The combination of these stress factors has most likely led to a reduction in source populations and, ultimately, the apparent extirpation of the entire metapopulation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of major dams on hydrology through the drainage network of the Sacramento River basin,California

This paper reports basinwide patterns of hydrograph alteration via statistical and graphical analysis from a network of long‐term streamflow gauges located various distances downstream of major dams and confluences in the Sacramento River basin in California, USA. Streamflow data from 10 gauging stations downstream of major dams were divided into hydrologic series corresponding to the periods before and after dam construction. Pre‐ and post‐dam flows were compared with respect to hydrograph characteristics representing frequency, magnitude and shape: annual flood peak, annual flow trough, annual flood volume, time to flood peak, flood drawdown time and interarrival time. The use of such a suite of characteristics within a statistical and graphical framework allows for generalising distinct strategies of flood control operation that can be identified without any a priori knowledge of operations rules. Dam operation is highly dependent on the ratio of reservoir capacity to annual flood volume (impounded runoff index). Dams with high values of this index generally completely cut off flood peaks thus reducing time to peak, drawdown time and annual flood volume. Those with low values conduct early and late flow releases to extend the hydrograph, increasing time to peak, drawdown time and annual flood volume. The analyses reveal minimal flood control benefits from foothill dams in the lower Sacramento River (i.e. dissipation of the down‐valley flood control signal). The lower part of the basin is instead reliant on a weir and bypass system to control lowland flooding. Data from a control gauge (i.e. with no upstream dams) suggest a background signature of global climate change expressed as shortened flood hydrograph falling limbs and lengthened flood interarrival times at low exceedence probabilities. This research has implications for flood control, water resource management, aquatic and riparian ecosystems and for rehabilitation strategies involving flow alteration and/or manipulation of sediment supplies. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

万家寨引黄一期工程水价分析

万家寨引黄工程水价一直是人们十分关心的问题。通过介绍引黄一期工程成本水价和呼延水厂成本水价以及居民和工业企业的水消费承受能力，分析了成本水价偏高的原因：一是投产初期引黄工程销售水量远小于其供水能力，工程效益不能得到充分发挥；二是高额的贷款利息。虽然工业水价和城市居民生活水价仍有上升空间，但由于成本水价远高于用户承受能力，因此目前工程不能做到自负盈亏，需要财政进行补贴。通过比较不同用水量情况下的成本水价可以发现：扩大销售范围，增加销售水量是解决这一问题的最根本和最长远的办法。建议尽快建设引黄工程北干，并尽快关闭自备井，限制地下水开采量，禁止超采，实质性推动呼延水厂二期工程的建设。     

Drought Subsidence Prediction Model for the Western San Joaquin Valley,California

Abstract

Land subsidence due to groundwater extraction in the western San Joaquin Valley has been studied and monitoredfor almost six decades. Although its subsidence rates diminished after 1970, the problem is still of great concern during droughtperiods. Knowing how big the social impact and cost of subsidence were in the past decades, the paper proposes an innovative approach to predicting its further occurrence. Extrapolation is based on analysis of historical groundwater subsidence relationship, drought pattern, and acceptance of new explanatory mechanisms for clay inelastic compaction. Average predicted magnitudes of subsidence in the western San Joaquin Valleyfor the next five decades are in the range 4 m to 8 m.     

基于生态水力半径法的武江流域生态流量研究

采用综合反映水生生物需求和河道断面信息的生态水力半径法,对武江河上北江特有珍稀鱼类省级自然保护区内的生态流量和生态水位进行估算。结果表明:生态水力半径法计算的生态流量过程线上存在明显的低流量、高流量和流量脉冲等水文要素,符合鱼类的自然需求;天然径流量下生态水力半径法估算的生态需水均可得到满足,但武江上梯级开发较多,需进行生态水位开展闸坝联合调度来保障河道的生态需水,确保犁市(二)站断面处各月份水深不小于平均生态水深。     

A Twofold Strategy for Riparian Restoration: Combining a Functional Flow Regime and Direct Seeding to Re‐establish Cottonwoods

The transboundary St Mary River drains Glacier National Park, USA, and was progressively dammed and diverted over the 20th century to support agricultural irrigation in northern Montana and southern Alberta, Canada. Following reduced instream flows, the riparian cottonwoods collapsed, and by 2000, few parental trees remained to provide seeds for cottonwood replenishment. As a novel twofold restoration strategy we: (1) worked with the dam operators to deliver a functional flow regime, a regulated instream flow pattern intended to recover some ecological function and specifically seedling recruitment, and (2) delivered cottonwood seeds by direct spreading and by sticking cuttings with seed catkins to allow gradual seed dispersal. The combination of river regulation and seeding enabled cottonwood colonization, and around 1.5% of the applied seeds produced seedlings after the first summer, at sites without livestock or heavy recreational use. Around 15% of those seedlings survived through the fourth summer, with mortality due to drought stress and flood scour, and establishment and survival were higher for the prairie cottonwood, Populus deltoides, than the narrowleaf cottonwood, Populus angustifolia. This study confirmed that the lack of seed source trees limited cottonwood colonization and demonstrated that the twofold restoration strategy provides promise for severe situations where parental trees have been lost. However, this would require substantial effort, and it would be more efficient to provide survivable instream flow patterns that avoid cottonwood collapse. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

引黄灌区农业水利成本和水利农业效益分析

通过对滨州小开河引黄灌区近10年农业规模效益发展及成本组成变化的分析,认为灌区水利工程建设对区域农业产生的影响主要为播种面积扩大、单产产量提高、作物种植结构调整,以及农业产量、产值快速增长及净利润的提高。但工程建成后,灌区农业效益增长的速度低于成本投入的增长速度,农业净利润的增长速度缓慢甚至个别作物净利润反而下降。农业成本中．水电成本仅为8％左右．粮棉水电成本占农业水电成本的八成左右,果树水电成本偏低、利润率偏大。建议对水电成本比例进行适当调整,增加效益好的作物水电成本比重,降低粮棉水电成本。