Catchment Erosion and Sediment Delivery in a Limno-Reservoir Basin Using a Simple Methodology

Accelerated soil erosion is a threat for the societies due to the loss of ecosystems services. Soil erosion and sediment delivery have been assessed in a small catchment of Central Spain with a new water body, the Pareja Limno-reservoir, located in its outlet. This limno-reservoir was created in 2006 with environmental and recreational purposes in the riverine zone of a large reservoir. Sedimentation risk is an issue of concern regarding limno-reservoirs environmental feasibility. Thus, the study of the soil erosion in the Pareja Limno-reservoir catchment and its sediment delivery seemed of the utmost importance. In this paper we establish an affordable and simple methodology to address it. A soil erosion and deposition monitoring network was installed in the Ompólveda River basin (≈88 km²), which flows into the Pareja Limno-reservoir. Results obtained were related with those from a sedimentation study previously carried out in the limno-reservoir. Gross hillslope erosion in the catchment was 6.0 Mg ha^?1 year^?1, which is in agreement with values reported for Mediterranean areas. After subtraction of the deposition measured, a soil loss of 1.2 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 was found in the catchment. Sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was estimated to be 3.8 %. SDR is low as a result of the low connectivity between the stream network and the limno-reservoir. Some local characteristics may also have a secondary influence in the low SDR value. Results obtained support the environmental feasibility of the Pareja Limno-reservoir from the sedimentation risk perspective. They also demonstrate that the methodology followed allows the assessment of soil loss and sediment delivery at a catchment scale, and the identification of areas where the erosion problems are most severe.     

Reducing reservoir impacts and improving outcomes for dam‐forced resettlement: experiences in central Vietnam

The present study focuses on the growing problem of the impacts of human displacement resulting from hydropower dam construction, within the context of the integrated lake basin management of dam reservoirs. Dam‐forced displacement and resettlement can pose severe challenges to the environmental, economic and social sustainability of a reservoir basin. A case study in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, suggests that many resettled communities experience impoverishment due to the lack of adequate replacement land, declines in supplemental food sources and reduced access to natural resources. In response to such situations, resettled residents may (i) destroy lake catchment forests for the purpose of converting them to farmland or engage in illegal logging; (ii) increase agrichemical inputs on reduced land, thereby polluting run‐off and groundwater; and (iii) place increased pressure on fish stocks and wildlife. Examples are provided from central Vietnam to illustrate the need for applying management approaches that allows the affected people to become beneficiaries of dam projects and for including civil society organisations in resettlement planning. The hydropower authority can fund benefit‐sharing mechanisms, including village‐level electrification and payment for environmental services schemes, in which resettled populations are paid for forest maintenance and protection to prevent erosion and deforestation, and reservoir access can be provided for fishing, aquaculture and agriculture. Civil society organizations can advocate for residents’ interests and for reallocation of protected forest land for community forestry. These approaches can be supported by an inclusive reservoir management board working to achieve environmental sustainability, economic growth and social equity.     

Managing rivers under changing environmental and societal boundary conditions,Part 1: National trends and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs

Most major rivers in the United States are managed by a system of reservoirs; many of which were built more than a half century ago. These reservoirs were designed based on environmental, societal, and regulatory assumptions at the time of construction. Since then, we have learned that climate is not stationary, population growth is being decoupled from energy needs and water demand, and new regulations (such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act) affect how river systems are managed. This study explores changing environmental, societal, and regulatory conditions relevant to the design and operation of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs across the conterminous United States. Results demonstrate large geographic variability in how these conditions have changed over time. In the south‐western United States, there is an amplified trend towards drier conditions and less reservoir flexibility with warmer temperatures, less precipitation, high sedimentation rates, and large population growth. In the north‐eastern United States, the impacts of increased temperature on reservoirs may be masked by greater precipitation and lower water demand. Environmental, societal, and regulatory changes can reduce the flexibility of reservoir operations and, in some instances, make it challenging for the reservoir to meet its intended purpose as designed decades ago. This study is the first step towards formalizing a process for monitoring broad trends relevant to water resources management for the purpose of moving towards adaptation of infrastructure. An interactive tool was developed for each condition: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/reservoir‐national‐trends/ .     

Are marron,Cherax tenuimanus (Crustacea: Decapoda), populations in irrigation reservoirs habitat limited? A trial using artificial habitats

Many valleys in Western Australia have been dammed to provide irrigation and potable water. To minimize the risks of outlet blockages, basins have been cleared of vegetation and rocky outcrops during construction. As a result, dam basins contain limited numbers of aquatic habitats, being dominated by sandy and muddy substrata. Nonetheless, endemic crayfishes (especially marron, Cherax tenuimanus) and three introduced species of fishes support large recreational fisheries in irrigation reservoirs. Recently, it has been shown that Perca fluviatilis (red‐fin perch) imposes an extremely high mortality on C. tenuimanus in reservoirs, with the result that marron populations might be below reservoir‐carrying capacity. To test this hypothesis, three types of artificial habitats (pipes, tiles, mesh) that mimic natural habitat types were placed into a reservoir and their use by C. tenuimanus was assessed. As C. tenuimanus is an annual brooder, releasing young during November and December, the effects of artificial habitats on biomass concentration and productivity can be differentiated. The study results showed that C. tenuimanus rapidly populated artificial habitats (concentration effects). Small, newly recruited C. tenuimanus also utilized the pipe and tile habitats (productivity effects). The addition of these types of habitats increased the suitability of the reservoir for the studied C. tenuimanus population, increasing productivity, probably via reduction of teleost predation. The increased productivity of the C. tenuimanus population might, in turn, increase the productivity and sustainability of the recreational marron fishery. Other aquatic species, including a biofilm community, also utilized the artificial habitats, increasing the species richness in the dam. Due to the success of the current study, large artificial habitats have been installed into two irrigation reservoirs in order to increase recreational marron fishing and conservation values.     

A Tale of Two Dams: The Impact of Reservoir Management on Rural Depopulation in Central Spain

In rural areas, depopulation is mainly due to a lack of economic and employment opportunities. In this context, the reservoirs already built can be a source of socioeconomic development based on tourism and outdoor leisure activities. The condition for this development to materialize is that reservoir management considers these activities. In Central Spain, a process of rural depopulation has been generated in the municipalities around the reservoirs at the Upper Tagus River, as water management allows water transfers from the Tagus to the Segura River without taking into account regulations that prioritize and protect donor basin users. Through the comparison of reservoir water management and demographic data of two rural areas close to the reservoirs, this article reveals the direct relationship between reservoir management that enables recreational uses with its consequent socioeconomic development and the maintenance of the population in the territory. Consequently, reservoir water management based on the socioeconomic development of reservoir banks is necessary and a priority over transfers to another basin.

     

Reservoir Management in the Duero Basin (Spain): Impact on River Regimes and the Response to Environmental Change

The climatic conditions of the Iberian Peninsula result in an imbalance between water availability and demand, which is largely managed through the many dams that were built during the 20th century. However, dam operations modify the natural functioning of rivers and related subsystems. In this study we investigated the effect of reservoirs on river regimes in the Duero basin, which is one of the largest river basins in Spain. This involved calculation of a modified impoundment ratio index, and assessment of the correlations between monthly inflows and outflows. Water resources in the basin have decreased markedly during the last five decades, so we also studied how patterns of management have adapted to less water availability in the region. A significant correlation was found between the level of impoundment and the alteration of river regimes by dams. The degree of regulation was highly dependent on annual inflows into the reservoir, and consequently alterations to river regimes were more intense during dry years. The basic pattern of flow regulation involved the storage of water during winter and spring in preparation for high water demand in summer, when natural flows are low. A combination of trend and cluster analyses revealed three responses of reservoir managers to decreasing inflows during the study period: (i) for several reservoirs the level of storage was reduced; (ii) for many reservoirs, particularly those for hydropower production, the storages were increased; and (iii) for the remainder the storage levels were maintained by adjusting the outflows to the decreasing inflows. The results suggest the absence of a common approach to reservoir management, and the dominance of other interests over environmental concerns, particularly in the context of hydrological change in the basin.     

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS AFFLICTING TAILWATER STREAM REACHES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

The tailwater is the reach of a stream immediately below an impoundment that is hydrologically, physicochemically and biologically altered by the presence and operation of a dam. The overall goal of this study was to gain a nationwide awareness of the issues afflicting tailwater reaches in the United States. Specific objectives included the following: (i) estimate the percentage of reservoirs that support tailwater reaches with environmental conditions suitable for fish assemblages throughout the year, (ii) identify and quantify major sources of environmental stress in those tailwaters that do support fish assemblages and (iii) identify environmental features of tailwater reaches that determine prevalence of key fish taxa. Data were collected through an online survey of fishery managers. Relative to objective 1, 42% of the 1306 reservoirs included in this study had tailwater reaches with sufficient flow to support a fish assemblage throughout the year. The surface area of the reservoir and catchment most strongly delineated reservoirs maintaining tailwater reaches with or without sufficient flow to support a fish assemblage throughout the year. Relative to objective 2, major sources of environmental stress generally reflected flow variables, followed by water quality variables. Relative to objective 3, zoogeography was the primary factor discriminating fish taxa in tailwaters, followed by a wide range of flow and water quality variables. Results for objectives 1–3 varied greatly among nine geographic regions distributed throughout the continental United States. Our results provide a large‐scale view of the effects of reservoirs on tailwater reaches and may help guide research and management needs. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

First assessment of the ecological status of Karaoun reservoir,Lebanon

Many reservoirs have been constructed throughout the world during the 20th century, with many also suffering from eutrophication. The resulting increased phytoplankton biomass in reservoirs impairs their use. Except for Lake Kinneret, the environmental status of lakes and reservoirs in the Middle East is poorly documented. Karaoun reservoir, also known as Qaroun, Qaraoun or Qarun, is the largest water body in Lebanon, having been constructed for irrigation and hydropower production. This present study reviews Karaoun reservoir, including its characteristics, uses, water quality and phytoplankton succession, to assess the environmental status of the reservoir on the basis of the few existing previous publications about the reservoir. Since 2004, which is 39 years after its construction, the reservoir is considered to be hypereutrophic, with low phytoplankton biodiversity and regular blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. The nutrient and trace metal concentrations would not prevent use of the reservoir for a drinking water supply for Beirut, as is currently being planned, although not all the micropollutants in the lake were documented. Karaoun reservoir is compared to other monitored lakes and reservoirs around the Mediterranean Sea. They share annual toxic cyanobacteria blooms of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum and of Microcystis aeruginosa. The phytoplankton composition and succession of Karaoun reservoir is more similar to El Gergal reservoir (Spain) than nearby natural lakes such as Lake Kinneret (Israel) and Lake Trichonis (Greece). Phytoplankton diversity in Karaoun reservoir was the lowest, due to higher nutrient concentrations and a larger decrease in water level in the dry season. Karaoun reservoir represents an interesting example of the potential response of the phytoplankton community in other lakes and reservoirs during the drought periods expected to occur as a result of global climate change.     

Integrating economic and hydrologic interdependence in reservoir management

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal allocation of reservoir water among competing uses (hydroelectric power generation, lake recreation and urban and rural water supply). An optimization model using nonlinear programming is developed to optimally allocate reservoir water among these uses. It is not unusual to optimize the values for flood control, hydroelectric generation, and urban and rural water uses, and to determine recreation values as a residual. Furthermore, if recreation values are considered, it may be in the form of constraints that maintain reservoir water levels within a specified range. In contrast, this study develops a model in which the recreational benefits depend explicitly on lake water levels, while the flood control capacity of the reservoir is maintained through upper bounds on the lake level. A mass balance equation is used to determine the water levels and volumes in the lake for each month over a twelve‐month period. The General Algebraic Modeling System with MINOS is used to solve this model. The results indicate that the total economic benefits for Lake Tenkiller could be increased by directly including recreational values in the model, and maintaining lake water levels at near‐normal levels that maximize the number of summer visitations. The optimal allocation of Lake Tenkiller water among competing uses also satisfies the equimarginal principle. That is, the marginal value of water at the lake in each month is the same for the last unit of water used for hydroelectric, recreational, or urban and rural water uses. Use of this type of modelling framework would assist policymakers or reservoir managers in reallocation of reservoir water and in calibrating several policy scenarios.     

A Shared Vision on the Transboundary Water Management Challenges of the Tagus River Basin

The Tagus River basin faces a growing water management challenge, as water demand and river regulation by large multi-purpose reservoirs lead to situations of water scarcity and mediocre conditions in some water bodies. The current situation and the impacts of increasing water demands are evaluated by a detailed river basin model which covers the whole river basin and includes the main hydraulic infrastructures and water uses of Spain and Portugal. Several indicators are computed from the model results to assess water demand satisfaction and the alteration of the hydrological regime, offering a better understanding of current hydro-climatic conditions in the basin. Results show that current water management practices have significantly altered the natural river flow conditions in the entire Tagus River basin. Water managers struggle to satisfy existing waters uses and increasing water demands will further accentuate these problems. The enforcement of new and planned environmental flow requirements may alleviate the conditions of some water bodies but will decrease the level of satisfaction of non-priority water demands. As additional measures are needed to improve water bodies status, water management and allocation policies must be revised at the river basin scale to improve the balance between water consumptive uses and environmental needs. A shared knowledge base and a common vision on the basin challenges will be required to achieve these goals and the datasets and tools applied in this study contribute to this needed transboundary cooperation.

     

Environmental Issues and Management for Hydropower Peaking Operations

Many hydropower plants are operated as peak generators or frequency controllers, because they can change their output quickly to follow the fluctuating power demand. When meeting peak load requirements, a power station is turned on at a particular time during the day, generates power at a constant load for a certain number of hours, and is then turned off or set to a different load for another time period, resulting in a high variability inflow discharges. Where reservoir hydro schemes are operated primarily to provide peak load services, there are particular environmental risks that should be considered in any environmental impact assessment. At a minimum these should focus on water quality, fluvial geomorphology, riparian vegetation, macro-invertebrate and fish communities underpinned by a sound hydrological analysis. Frequent temperature changes may occur downstream of a peaking power station; increased seepage-induced erosion of riverbanks due to frequent water level drawdowns; and impacts to macro-invertebrate and fish communities due to rapid and frequent in channel habitat conditions. With a sound understanding of the potential environmental issues, there are strategies that can be employed at the siting and design stage to minimize or mitigate these risks, including but not limited to minimum environmental flows, ramping rules, utilization of a re-regulation storage and localized treatment works.     

A Game Theoretic Approach to Assess the Impacts of Major Investments on Transboundary Water Resources: The Case of the Euphrates and Tigris

There are varying and inconsistent claims among countries sharing the same river basins. While upstream countries are asserting that they regulate flows through built-up reservoirs (enabling flood prevention) and reduce seasonal flow variations (providing water during drought seasons), downstream countries criticize upstream countries for excessive withdrawals and declining annual flows. Behind the scene, almost every basin country unilaterally envisions of ambitious projects demanding extensive water withdrawals for their prospective development and growth. This study establishes a methodology to measure the rational economic and political impacts of extensive reservoir projects throughout a basin, using the case of the Euphrates and Tigris. This methodology uses both linear programming applications calculating country and coalition benefits, and game theory concepts (core and Shapley value) for evaluating the impacts of reservoirs. The Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model (ETRBM) is extended by adding the time dimension. In conjunction with time, reservoir capacities are incorporated into the model as a new set of parameters enabling resources allocations over multiple periods. In a rational economic view, the existence of reservoirs, while providing certain advantages in allocating water overtime, provides varying geopolitical powers to upstream and downstream basin countries. As a result of model applications, it is observed that basin-wide coalitions may potentially eliminate construction of excessive reservoir capacities, and, therefore, unnecessary investment costs and evaporation losses. It is also observed that assuming the absence of downstream reservoirs, the upstream reservoirs provide significant, first, economic benefit to the all forms of coalitions with upstream country and associated parties and, second, power to the country having the reservoirs in any coalition scenario. However, again in a game theoretic perspective, the power of upstream countries looses some of its weight when downstream reservoirs are incorporated. During drought years, the availability of reservoirs ensures extensive core solutions and encourages a grand coalition among all parties.     

The impacts of power boating and water skiing on lakes and reservoirs

Over the last 30 years, the use of motorised recreational craft on inland waters has increased significantly, and it is likely that this trend will continue. This growing use of rivers, lakes and water storage reservoirs for recreational purposes has led to concerns about increasing anthropological pressures on freshwater environments. As a result, numerous studies focusing on the possible impact of power boats on inland waterbodies have been undertaken since the early 1970s, when attention started to be drawn to environmental impacts associated with this type of recreation. This paper presents an overview of identified and documented physical, chemical and biological impacts as a result of motorised recreational activities on lakes and reservoirs. Relevant literature, including research papers, government reports and bibliographies, was consulted in the preparation of this review. It has become obvious that in the past, biological impacts have been underestimated. Thus, there is a need for further, more focused, research into the impacts on not only freshwater ecosystems but on terrestrial biota surrounding recreational waters.     

基于湖心水库的洞庭湖治理新理念

基于"湖心水库"的基本思想,提出"变湖为库、清污分流、蓄洪排污、流水不腐"的洞庭湖全新治湖理念。利用二维水动力模型,分析了西洞庭湖湖心水库建设对行洪、补水、水环境的影响,探讨其运用的可行性。结果表明:湖心水库的分洪蓄水能有效降低西洞庭湖内洪峰水位,缓解湖区的防洪压力;湖心水库的补水在枯水期能有效抬升开湖航道水位,改善通航条件;同时湖心水库的补水增大了开湖航道及湘江尾闾航道内水流流速,加速了水体交换,对洞庭湖水环境有利。     

Influence of hydrology on water quality and trophic state of irrigation reservoirs in Sri Lanka

Many reservoirs provide multiple benefits to people around the world, in addition to primary uses such as irrigation. Thus, reservoir management should address their multiple uses. The water quality of ten irrigation reservoirs in Sri Lanka was examined in the present study with the objective of better understanding the effects of hydrological regimes on reservoir water quality and trophic state. Basic limnological parameters pertinent to the nutrient loads to, and trophic state of, the reservoirs were collected from June 2013 to February 2016. The sampling period was arbitrarily divided into two periods of approximately similar duration (period 1 = June 2013–September 2014; period 2 = October 2014–February 2016) to investigate whether or not there was a seasonal variation in the water quality parameters. Although temporal and spatial variations were observed, most water quality parameters were within the levels acceptable for drinking water standards. The 10 reservoirs were also ordinated by principal component analysis (PCA) on the basis of the water quality parameters of the two sampling periods in a two‐dimensional score plot. Reservoirs in the first principal component (PC1) axis were represented by negative scores attributable to the dissolved oxygen concentration and pH and, to a lesser extent, by electrical conductivity and chlorophyll‐a concentration. Positive scores in PC1 were represented by reservoirs with a score loading attributable to alkalinity, nitrate concentration, Secchi depth, temperature and seston weight and, to a lesser extent, from the total phosphorus concentration. There was a significant negative correlation of PC1 scores with relative reservoir water‐level fluctuation (RRLF; the ratio of mean reservoir water‐level amplitude to mean reservoir depth). Furthermore, Carlson's trophic index also were influenced by RRLF, although not by hydraulic retention time (HRT), indicating allochthonous nutrient inputs into the irrigation reservoirs were mainly governed by RRLF, but not by HRT. Thus, the results of the present study provide useful insights into achieving desirable reservoir water quality through the manipulation of the hydrological regime.     

Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change Using a Reservoir Management Tool to a Northern Watershed: Application to Lièvre River Watershed,Quebec, Canada

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of climate change (CC) on the management of the three reservoirs in the Lièvre River watershed and to investigate adaptation strategies to CC. To accomplish this objective, a reservoir management tool was developed. The tool integrates: hydrological ensemble streamflow predictions; a stochastic optimization model; a neural network model; and a water balance model. Five climate projections from a regional climate model, under current (1961–2000) and future (2041–2070) climate scenarios, were used. Adjustments to the reservoirs operating rules were used as an adaptation strategy to limit flooding in the watershed and also in the Montreal Archipelago located downstream of the watershed. A number of constraints in the reservoirs of the Lièvre watershed are related to summer recreational activities, which would start earlier in future climate. Modifications of these constraints were simulated to take into account socio-economic impacts of climate change on reservoirs operation. Results show that greater quantities of water would have to be stored in the Lièvre River watershed in the future, to decrease the risk of flooding in the Montreal Archipelago. The reservoir located at the downstream end of the watershed would be more vulnerable and its reliability may decrease in the future. Adaptation measures reduced the inter-annual variability of the reservoir level under future climate conditions. The reservoir management tool is an example of a no-regrets strategy, as it will contribute to improve the tools currently available to manage the reservoirs of the Lièvre River watershed.     

The use of models for synthesizing knowledge for integrated lake basin management, and facilitating implementation of the World Lake Vision

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is becoming increasingly accepted as the most logical and effective means of managing aquatic ecosystems for their sustainable use. Despite efforts to provide practical examples of the application of IWRM, we still lack knowledge on how to best consider and integrate the potentially large quantity of data and information, both scientific and socioeconomic, which must be considered in pursuit of the goal of sustainable water resources. The unique features of (i) an integrating nature; (ii) long water retention time, and (iii) complex response dynamics make the management of lakes and reservoirs particularly difficult to achieve. Although the World Lake Vision has provided substantial management guidance to address some of the complex issues facing lake and reservoir management, additional work directed to analysing the interactions and linkages between the scientific/technical and the socioeconomic components of the sustainability ‘equation’ is needed. This report examines the use of mathematical models as a synthesizing tool in developing and applying management strategies for lakes and reservoirs. The different types of available models, and the criteria that can be used to select the ‘best’ model for a given situation, also are discussed, as is the important role of environmental indicators in the process. A case study focusing on the restoration of Lake Fure in Denmark provides an illustrative example of the application of the approach discussed in this report.     

三峡-葛洲坝梯级水库不同蓄水阶段对其下游泥沙特性的影响分析

为了分析三峡-葛洲坝梯级水库对长江泥沙特性的影响,选取位于三峡-葛洲坝梯级水库上游和下游的寸滩和宜昌水文站为研究站点,以葛洲坝及三峡水库建设和运行的不同阶段划分研究时段,利用寸滩、宜昌1954—2012年的长系列日流量和日含沙量资料,从年、月、日3个时间尺度定量分析三峡-葛洲坝梯级水库上游对下游泥沙特性的影响。结果表明:三峡-葛洲坝梯级水库对其下游年、月、日尺度的泥沙特性影响随水库库容、运行阶段的变化而变化;库容越大,蓄水位越高,影响越显著。研究成果旨在为分析评价大坝的运行对长江生态系统健康与稳定性的影响提供参考。     

河道型水库富营养化及水华调控方法和关键技术

本文提出了河道型水库富营养化及水华调控的系统研究方法,重点探讨了水利水电工程影响下的河道型水库富营养化及水华监测、模拟及调控方法及关键技术,包括流域水环境监测评估与水华预警系列技术,大型水库多维、多场耦合富营养化模拟系统,以及改善河道型水库支流库湾水温层化进而抑制水华暴发的调控方法等,以期为抑制河道型水库支流库湾水华暴发、改善水库水质提供参考和依据。     

梯级水库溃坝洪水模拟

为充分利用水能资源和实现流域水资源的综合调控,我国在众多河流上进行了梯级开发,因此,对梯级水库大坝群的溃坝洪水风险开展研究具有重大意义。结合贵阳松柏山、花溪梯级水库实际工程状况,在假设梯级水库大坝出现溃坝事件时,以河道溃坝数学模型进行溃坝洪水演进模拟分析,获得上游松柏山水库溃坝、花溪水库库区及其下游风险区域的水位变化过程。结合数学模型计算成果,分析了梯级水库群不同水位组合溃坝洪水对下游的影响。