Examining the ecological consequences of restoring flow intermittency to artificially perennial lowland streams: Patterns and predictions from the Broken—Boosey creek system in northern Victoria,Australia

The reinstatement of natural flow regimes is a rapidly emerging issue in river restoration worldwide. In northern Victoria, Australia, efforts are presently underway to restore a natural, intermittent flow regime to several streams which have received perennial diversions for both irrigation and stock and domestic water‐supplies for over 100 years. A pipeline to deliver water to landholders will significantly reduce transmission losses throughout the system allowing irrigation canals and diversion weirs to be decommissioned. The motivation for flow alteration in this system lies primarily in reducing inefficiencies in water delivery which, in turn, will be used to meet escalating demands on water resources. The ecological impact of the flow regime shift on these streams is likely to be substantial. This study utilized an existing artificial hydrological gradient (from perennial to intermittent) in two creek systems, to explore relationships between flow regime and a range of ecological variables. These data provide a benchmark against which to assess ecological changes once flow has been altered and form the basis for predicting changes that can assist future management decisions. Data collected from 10 sites across a strong hydrological gradient detected clear differences in geomorphology, water quality and biotic assemblages (macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish). By examining the relationship between flow regime and the distribution of biota we identify both the positive and negative outcomes of restoring naturally intermittent flow regimes within artificially perennial lowland streams. The reinstatement of intermittent flow regimes in artificially perennial streams will continue in many parts of the world as water delivery via these systems becomes increasingly uneconomical. While flow restoration may in principle be regarded as a positive step, these findings emphasize the need to consider fully the ecological consequences of restoring historical hydrological regimes to streams within the context of other human induced catchment disturbances. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stay with the flow: How macroinvertebrate communities recover during the rewetting phase in Alpine streams affected by an exceptional drought

Droughts are affecting an increasing number of lotic ecosystems worldwide due to the combined effects of climatic and anthropogenic pressures. Unlike naturally intermittent rivers, where the drying phase is a part of the annual flow regime, water scarcity in Alpine rivers represents a relatively recent phenomenon and, therefore, a major threat for the biodiversity of these lotic ecosystems. However, Alpine stream community response to drought is still poorly investigated. Here, we assess the recovery of macroinvertebrates in two Alpine streams after a supraseasonal drought. As water returned, a total of 10 sampling sessions were carried out, and temporal patterns in diversity, density, and taxonomic composition of benthic communities, as well as in the percentage of functional feeding groups, were investigated. We found that the resistance of invertebrate communities in Alpine streams is generally low: drought markedly reduced the diversity and density of macroinvertebrates. Conversely, our results suggest that the passive dispersal by drift from the upstream river sections seems the most probable mechanism promoting the post‐drought recovery. Nevertheless, this resilience ability appears to be stream specific and influenced by intrinsic stream characteristics, including the flow permanence and distance from the nearest upstream perennial reach. This work sheds light on the ecological consequences of droughts on macroinvertebrate communities. As flow intermittency in Alpine areas is expected to intensify under current global change scenarios, results of this study provide important information to predict changes in the taxonomic composition and diversity of macroinvertebrate communities.     

Effects of stream flow intermittency on riparian vegetation of a semiarid region river (San Pedro River,Arizona)

The San Pedro River in the southwestern United States retains a natural flood regime and has several reaches with perennial stream flow and shallow ground water. However, much of the river flows intermittently. Urbanization‐linked declines in regional ground‐water levels have raised concerns over the future status of the riverine ecosystem in some parts of the river, while restoration‐linked decreases in agricultural ground‐water pumping are expected to increase stream flows in other parts. This study describes the response of the streamside herbaceous vegetation to changes in stream flow permanence. During the early summer dry season, streamside herbaceous cover and species richness declined continuously across spatial gradients of flow permanence, and composition shifted from hydric to mesic species at sites with more intermittent flow. Hydrologic threshold values were evident for one plant functional group: Schoenoplectus acutus, Juncus torreyi, and other hydric riparian plants declined sharply in cover with loss of perennial stream flow. In contrast, cover of mesic riparian perennials (including Cynodon dactylon, an introduced species) increased at sites with intermittent flow. Patterns of hydric and mesic riparian annuals varied by season: in the early summer dry season their cover declined continuously as flow became more intermittent, while in the late summer wet season their cover increased as the flow became more intermittent. Periodic drought at the intermittent sites may increase opportunities for establishment of these annuals during the monsoonal flood season. During the late summer flood season, stream flow was present at most sites, and fewer vegetation traits were correlated with flow permanence; cover and richness were correlated with other environmental factors including site elevation and substrate nitrate level and particle size. Although perennial‐flow and intermittent‐flow sites support different streamside plant communities, all of the plant functional groups are abundant at perennial‐flow sites when viewing the ecosystem at broader spatial and temporal scales: mesic riparian perennials are common in the floodplain zone adjacent to the river channel and late‐summer hydric and mesic annuals are periodically abundant after large floods. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of macroinvertebrate assemblages across a gradient of flow permanence in an agricultural watershed

In the south‐eastern United States and globally, increasing human water demand coupled with climate change is diminishing stream flows and increasing stream intermittency in many watersheds. We characterized benthic invertebrate assemblages across a stream flow gradient ranging from intermittent to perennial following a multiyear drought by examining the functional traits that can influence assemblage response to drying. We sampled 13 reaches within the Lower Flint River Basin in south‐western Georgia, from September to December 2013. Reaches included perennial, near‐perennial (ceased flowing but maintained a wetted channel during drought), intermittent‐dry (seasonally dry), and intermittent‐frequent (frequently dry). Distinct assemblages were documented across this gradient. Reaches that dried during the drought had a lower richness of aquatic insects, especially Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa, partly due to inadequate time for life cycle completion and lack of adaptations to avoid drying. Intermittent reaches also included abundant and unique noninsect taxa such as Gammarus spp. and Isopoda. Projected trends towards increased water demand and drought severity and frequency in the south‐eastern United States will magnify shifts towards dominance by drought‐tolerant taxa as greater portions of stream networks become intermittent.     

Stream macrophytes increase invertebrate production and fish habitat utilization in a California stream

Stable flow and thermal regimes, coupled with geologically derived nutrients, are drivers of enhanced productivity in volcanic spring‐fed rivers. However, little information exists on biotic mechanisms or species interactions contributing to elevated productivity at higher trophic levels. In a California stream, juvenile steelhead trout were observed to preferentially select macrophyte habitat at a rate three times greater, on average, than five other habitat types. To understand the potential rearing benefits associated with macrophytes, we conducted a manipulative experiment to determine how macrophytes affect invertebrate prey availability and stream water velocity. Macrophytes supported up to nine times greater abundance of invertebrates than adjacent open gravel habitats. They also doubled invertebrate drift rates and reduced water velocity by up to 42‐fold. The results show that aquatic macrophytes are an important stream habitat feature that may be bioenergetically more favourable for rearing salmonids than more traditional lotic habitats. We suggest that macrophytes have the potential to enhance growth rates of juvenile salmonids when compared with other habitat types. Habitats that confer growth and size advantages may ultimately improve fitness and contribute to conservation of imperilled salmonids.     

Disturbance by aquatic plant management in streams: Effects on benthic invertebrates

The effect of aquatic plant removal on benthic invertebrates and their habitat was studied in two macrophyte-rich streams of the Swiss Plateau. In each stream, habitat conditions (macrophyte biomass, current velocity, water depth) and invertebrate densities were monitored in a control reach and in a reach where plants were removed by cutting. Biological samples were taken and physical parameters measured on three dates before and six dates after plant removal in both reaches. Responses to plant removal were similar in both streams; macrophyte cutting initially decreased mean plant biomass (ca. 85%) and total number of invertebrates (ca. 65%). Variation between replicates was, however, higher in one of the streams, causing fewer effects on plants and invertebrates to be statistically significant. Plant cutting affected mainly taxa that used macrophytes as habitat (e.g. Simuliidae, Chironomidae), whereas highly mobile taxa (e.g. Ephemeroptera) and taxa living on or within the bed sediments (e.g. Trichoptera, Bivalvia) were less affected. Taxa that decreased after plant removal recovered within 4–6 months, although recovery of macrophytes was quite different in both streams. Invertebrate recovery also seemed to be seasonally dependent, with cutting having a less severe impact during summer than spring. Our results suggest that macrophytes in streams should be removed only in summer, preferably leaving some plant beds to act as refugia for phytophilous invertebrates. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Delineating Capture Zone of a Pumping Well in a Slanting Regional Groundwater Flow to a Stream with a Leaky Layer

In this study, analytical and semi-analytical solutions are derived to delineate capture zone of a pumping well near a stream where a leaky layer exists between the aquifer and the stream. A groundwater regional flow is considered in the aquifer and allowed to have different angles with respect to the stream axis. Three critical pumping rates are introduced. At the first pumping rate, capture zone boundary tangents the interface between the aquifer and the leaky layer; called the in-homogeneity boundary. At the second pumping rate, capture zone boundary tangents the stream boundary and if the rate is increased, a part of pumped water would be withdrawn from the stream. The third pumping rate, which may be smaller or larger than the other two, is defined as the rate at which stream water begins to enter the leaky layer; it may or may not be captured by the pumping well. Four different capture zone configurations (cases) are analyzed for different values of pumping rates, groundwater flow directions, and leaky layer’s thickness and hydraulic conductivity. The first three cases analyze hydraulic situations whereby capture zone does not reach the stream, and hence, no pumped water is withdrawn from the stream. With the lowest pumping rate in the first case, no stream water enters the leaky layer. It enters the leaky layer but not the aquifer in the second, and enters the leaky layer and the aquifer in the third case. In the fourth case, where capture zone boundary intersects the stream, the fraction of pumped stream water to total pumped water is delineated.     

东江河流生态评价及其修复方略

本文通过对大型无脊椎底栖动物状况的调查对东江河流水生态状况进行了分析,并在此基础上提出了生态修复方略。从上游到河口选12个点采集底栖动物样本,发现东江流域底栖动物生物多样性在上游和中游保持在较高水平,而到下游则迅速降低到零。对增江湾、西枝江牛轭湖等处的取样进行分析并探讨改善东江生态的方法。针对不同生态应力提出了3种生态修复方略:1.创造多样性的生物栖息地,开发和形成一系列类似增江湾那样的缓流滞流区,把已经隔离的牛轭湖和江边湖泊湿地重新与江水连通;2.调整大坝运用方式,采取大坝泄放的流量逐渐增加和减少的方式,给生物发出流速增大和降低的信号,使其得以准备和躲避;3.稳定岸坡、控制侵蚀、保护和发育河边植被。     

黄河流域干旱时空演变的空间格局研究

干旱因子是突变性和连续性并存的复杂地理要素(即空间异质性和相似性并存),理清其空间分布格局,对于深入认识流域水资源演变规律具有重要意义。本文以黄河流域为例,采用标准化降水指数(SPI)分析流域干旱时空演变规律,基于此,运用游程理论方法从标准化降水指数中识别出干旱发生次数、历时和烈度三种属性变量,并分析季尺度干旱因子的空间分布规律;最后,利用全局和局部Moran’s I指数探究了不同特征变量的全局和局部空间自相关性,确立了流域季尺度干旱因子的空间聚集(离散)位置及其空间分布格局。结果表明:(1)黄河流域四季干旱化程度加剧,下游干旱化程度高于上游,随着季节的变化,同一响应单元存在由湿转干再转湿的变化规律;(2)不同季节,流域旱情空间分布格局差异明显,春季西安及周边区域存在区域性干旱现象(干旱次数少、历时长、烈度大);夏季黄河源区旱情严重(历时长、烈度大);秋季黄河下游三门峡、孟津和运城区域存在区域性干旱现象(干旱次数少、历时长、烈度大);冬季宁蒙河段旱情严重,而兰州断面干旱历时和干旱烈度呈现"低高异常"的空间分布格局,旱情可能会加剧。掌握旱情空间分布类型,重点布控"高高聚集"格局区域,可以有效提高旱灾决策的准确度。     

A numerical study of pumping effects on flow velocity distributions in Mosul Dam reservoir using the HEC‐RAS model

Water flow direction and velocity affect and controls erosion, transport and deposition of sediment in rivers, reservoirs and different hydraulic structures. One of the main structures affected is pumping stations within the dams wherein the velocity distribution near the station intake is disturbed. The two‐dimensional (2‐D) HEC‐RAS 5.01 model was utilized to study, analyse and evaluate the effects of pumping rates and flow depth on the flow velocity distribution, flow stream power and their effects in the Mosul Dam reservoir. The pumping station was considered as a case study. The station is suffering from sediment accumulation around, and in, its intake and suction pipes. The main inflow sources to the reservoir are the Tigris River and run‐off from the valleys within its basin. The reservoir was divided into two parts for the present study, including the upper part near the pumping station (analysed as a two‐dimensional zone), while the lower part was analysed as a one‐dimensional flow to reduce the simulation period computation time (1986–2011). Different operation plans (i.e. pumping rate and water depth) were considered. The results of the depth‐averaged velocity model indicated that when the pumping station was working at a range from the designed full capacity (100% to 25% of its full capacity), the maximum flow velocity increased from 75 to 4 times the normal velocity when there is no pumping dependent on pumping rate and flow depth. For the same operation plans, the flow stream power varied from around zero values to 400 times at full pumping capacity and low flow depth. For sediment routing along the reservoir, the considered statistical criteria indicated the model performance in estimating the total sediment load deposition and invert bed level is much better than in the case of erosion and deposition areas for different considered bed sections of the reservoir.     

Drought refuges affect algal recolonization in intermittent streams

Drought refuges enable the biota of intermittent streams to survive dry periods, but their roles in sustaining algal assemblage structure and productivity are not known. This study determined the importance of two types of drought refuge (dry biofilm, permanent pools) for benthic algal regrowth in four intermittent streams in the Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia. Dry biofilm was removed by scrubbing randomly chosen stones from two dry riffles in each of two streams with permanent pools and two streams without permanent pools. Algae were sampled from scrubbed and control stones at one, six and sixteen weeks after flow resumed. Removal of dry algal biofilm resulted in lower algal densities on stones from both stream types, and scrubbed stones had similar densities of algae after one week, regardless of the presence or absence of permanent pools. Algal density on stones exposed to both refuge types was more than an order of magnitude higher than the density on stones exposed to either one or neither refuge. The effects of biofilm removal on algal density were still apparent after six weeks of flow and assemblage composition differed between streams with and without permanent pools. Dry biofilm was an important drought refuge for algae in both stream types, but epilithic algal density in streams with permanent pools developed more rapidly than streams that were completely dry over summer. Loss of permanent pools from intermittent streams due to water abstraction may substantially reduce algal productivity after flow resumes, which may limit the supply of autochthonous carbon. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of water transfer on aquatic insects in a stream in Hong Kong

Hong Kong streams serve as indirect catchments for storage reservoirs to which they are connected by a network of undergound tunnels. Water transfer to reservoirs reduces stream flow downstream of the extraction point, and surface flows may disappear in affected reaches during the dry season. The ecological effects of periodic dewatering on aquatic insects were investigated in Tai Po Kau Forest Stream, Hong Kong, where water extraction at a weir gives rise to intermittent flow immediately downstream of a well studied perennial stream section. Benthic samples were taken from the intermittent reach on 48 occasions over a two year period encompassing two dry seasons. Trends in total population densities were unclear, with considerable fluctuations over the study period. In contrast, species richness declined markedly after surface flow disappeared, reaching the lowest values at the end of both dry seasons. A rapid increase accompanied flow resumption on the onset of the summer monsoon, and maximum wet season values were up to five times greater than species richness during the dry season. Dry season declines in Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were accompanied by a dramatic increase in Coleoptera (Elmidae and especially Helodidae). The situation was reversed during the wet season when Trichoptera (especially Cheumatopsyche and Chimarra) and Ephemeroptera (Leptophlebiidae, Baetidae and Heptageniidae) were numerous. Community structure in the intermittent reach recovered quickly from the dewatering disturbance, due largely to recolonization by drifting animals. At the scale investigated, the community was resilient to disturbance because a source of mobile colonists was available upstream. However, if dewatering affects reaches far downstream, the presence of suitable colonists in upstream reaches cannot be guaranteed, and recovery from disturbance will be delayed. Lowland streams in Hong Kong are often polluted and host to exotic species; in such circumstances the effects of water transfers are exacerbated and recolonization is hindered.     

入湖展宽河道淤积调整沿程变化分析

为研究入湖展宽河道边界下的泥沙淤积调整规律,进行了抚河改道入青岚湖河工模型试验研究。试验结果表明入湖逐渐展宽河道初期淤积方式和河槽调整存在空间差异:上段出现堤式淤积,形成稳定单一河道;中段出现拦门沙、点坝和顺坝淤积,形成相对稳定的分汊河道;下段出现不同尺度的淤积体及淤积位置的调整,伴随着水流切滩和改道现象。从水沙动力条件角度对其空间差异形成的原因进行分析和探讨,认为造床流量条件下主流流速与泥沙中值粒径起动流速的大小关系是决定河床冲淤调整的重要指标,该指标的沿程变化可能是造成逐渐展宽河道初期淤积方式沿程变化的重要原因。     

考虑水文非一致性变异的河道基本生态流量

考虑水文非一致性变异提出河道内基本生态流量阈值的计算方法与模型,并将其应用于湟水干流上游西宁断面进行例证。采用Mann-Kendal检验和滑动t检验进行水文非一致性变异综合诊断,经还原修正以水文变异前天然流量过程为基准,分别利用广义极值分布流量众值法、历时曲线法、改进年内同频率展布法计算河道内生态流量过程,取其外包线作为河道内基本生态流量阈值。结果表明,西宁站年径流量时间序列突变点是2000年,经还原修正,利用天然径流资料计算得到西宁站枯水期、平水期、丰水期的基本生态流量阈值下限均值分别是11.0、17.6和27.5 m3/s,阈值上限均值分别是17.0、35.6和56.0 m3/s。与已有结果对比,生态流量阈值计算方法具有一定的合理性,更加贴近具有季节性的湟水干流水文生态系统。     

人工阶梯 深潭改善下切河流水生栖息地及生态的作用

本文通过野外试验研究了人工阶梯深潭对下切河流水生栖息地及生态的作用，试验河段位于西南山区的吊嘎河上150m侵蚀下切严重的河段，布置15级人工阶梯，对水流 (水深、流速、水面宽、流量)、河床底质、河床微地貌和水生底栖动物物种及数量变化进行了5个月监测。试     

Ecological considerations in the development and application of instream flow-habitat models

Methodologies for recommending instream flows for protecting lotic ecosystems are evolving amid constructive criticism. During this period of change it is important that all concerned parties are aware of the ecological factors that control stream ecosystems and fish populations. Ecological factors relating to stream ecology, population dynamics, energetics, predation, and competition are reviewed to explain why indices of microhabitat availability are not expected to be consistent predictors of fish population density. Implications of these concepts for development and application of instream flow-habitat models for recommending instream flow regimes are discussed. Current ecological theory and empirical studies support the hypothesis that microhabitat availability may limit fish populations but not continuously. Therefore, assessments must consider the limiting habitat events as well as temperature and water quality constraints. Also, invertebrates and non-game fishes must be considered in instream flow assessments because of their importance in stream ecosystems.     

Distributed Simulation‐optimization Model for Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water Under Environmental and Sustainability Restrictions

Evolving optimal management strategies are essential for the sustainable development of water resources. A coupled simulation-optimization model that links the simulation and optimization models internally through a response matrix approach is developed for the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water in meeting irrigation water demand and municipal water supply, while ensuring groundwater sustainability and maintaining environmental flow in river. It incorporates the stream-aquifer interactions, and the aquifer response matrix is generated from a numerical groundwater model. The optimization model is solved by using MATLAB. The developed model has been applied to the Hormat-Golina valley alluvial stream-aquifer system, Ethiopia, and the optimal pumping schedules were obtained for the existing 43 wells under two different scenarios representing with and without restrictions on stream flow depletion, and satisfying the physical, operational and managerial constraints arising due to hydrological configuration, sustainability and ecological services. The study reveals that the total annual optimal pumping is reduced by 19.75?% due to restrictions on stream flow depletion. It is observed that the groundwater pumping from the aquifer has a significant effect on the stream flow depletion and the optimal conjunctive water use plays a great role in preventing groundwater depletion caused by the extensive pumping for various purposes. The groundwater contribution in optimal conjunctive water use is very high having a value of 92?% because of limited capacity of canal. The findings would be useful to the planners and decision makers for ensuring long-term water sustainability.

     

竖井式进水流道尺寸对水力性能的影响

根据南水北调东线工程邳州泵站的基本参数,基于进水流道三维湍流流动数值模拟方法,研究了竖井式进水流道控制尺寸对其水力性能的影响。揭示了竖井式进水流道长度、宽度和高度等控制尺寸对进水流道出口流速分布均匀度、流速加权平均角度和水头损失的影响规律和原因,并分析了流道内的流速分布情况。研究结果表明:控制尺寸对竖井式进水流道水力性能影响较为显著;控制尺寸的增加明显提高了竖井式进水流道的水力性能,当增加至一定值后,影响趋于平缓;邳州泵站竖井式进水流道方案控制尺寸取值合理,水流收缩平顺均匀、流线层次分明,流道内无任何脱流或旋涡等不良流态,水头损失小。本项研究结果可为竖井式进水流道的水力设计、控制尺寸的合理确定提供理论依据。     

渭河流域主要控制断面旱限流量确定

旱限流量是评估河流干旱等级的水文特征指标,是启动抗旱应急响应等级的重要依据,是做好抗旱水量应急调度的重要基础。依据水文断面下游主要取用水需求,分析计算各取水口取用水量,以取用水量与河道生态流量之和作为初值,综合确定旱限流量。通过对渭河流域主要控制断面旱限流量的分析研究,确定拓石、魏家堡、咸阳、临潼、华县的旱限流量分别为:16.0、11.0、10.0、50.0、12.0 m3/s,为科学合理判断水文干旱等级及进行抗旱指挥决策提供可靠依据。     

鸡冠石污水处理厂进水泵房模型试验与设计优化

通过大型城市污水泵房水力模型,进行集水池的流态观察和流场测试,管路的水力损失试验,抗吸气性能试验,集水池、出水井的浪涌试验,组合开泵运行性能试验等,提出了污水处理厂进水泵房设计的优化措施。使运行更稳定,流态更合理,并进行了优化方案的验证。在水泵组合运行时增加了流量,提高了效率。