Estimating discharge in gravel‐bed river using non‐contact ground‐penetrating and surface‐velocity radars

Discharge measurement is a critical task for gravel‐bed channels. Under high‐flow conditions, the elevation of the riverbed changes significantly by intensive torrential flow. The stage–discharge relations commonly used for stream discharge estimation may no longer be adequate. The contact‐type velocity measuring is also subject to measurement errors and/or instrument failures by the high‐flow velocities, driftwood, stumps, and debris. This study developed a new real‐time method to estimate river discharge in gravel‐bed channels. A systematic measuring technology combining ground‐penetrating radar and surface‐velocity radar was employed. The rating curves representing the relations of water surface velocity to the channel cross‐sectional mean velocity and flow area were established. Stream discharge was then deduced from the resulting mean velocity and flow area. The proposed method was examined in a steep gravel‐bed reach of the Cho‐Shui River in central Taiwan. The estimated stream discharge during three flood events were compared to the prediction by using the stage–discharge relation and the index‐velocity method. The proposed method of this study is capable of computing reasonable values of discharge for an entire flood hydrograph, whereas the other two methods tend to produce large extrapolation errors. Moreover, when the computed discharge is used in 2D flood flow simulation, the proposed method demonstrates better performance than the commonly used stage–discharge and index‐velocity methods.     

Quantifying Whitewater Recreation Opportunities in Cataract Canyon of the Colorado River,Utah: Aggregating Acceptable Flows and Hydrologic Data to Identify Boatable Days

The structural norm approach was combined with the Potential for Conflict Index to define recreation streamflow needs for the Colorado River in Utah and Colorado. An online survey was completed by 128 commercial and non‐commercial boaters, who evaluated a range of flows for whitewater boating. For the Cataract Canyon reach, respondents rated the quality of their recreation experience of specific flows, describing the quality of boating opportunities across the full range of historical streamflows. Ranges for both acceptable and optimum flows were defined, as well as thresholds for unacceptable flows. These ranges were then evaluated against historical hydrologic records to quantify the timing, frequency, and duration of days when defined whitewater flows exist across different year types (i.e. average boatable days). Results indicated that on average, a total of 257 boatable days existed in dry years, and 353 total boatable days occurred in dry‐typical years. In wet and wet‐typical years, 362 and 365 total boatable days respectively, occurred on average. Results of the boatable days' analysis indicated that over the 23‐year period of record, whitewater boating opportunities occurred nearly every day of the year in all but the driest year types. Results from this study provide resource managers with information which can be used in the development of annual operating plans for the Colorado River Basin and help managers understand how changes in flow impact the quality of recreational opportunities. This application demonstrates the value of analysing boatable days on any river where recreation management is a priority. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Importance of Shallow‐Low Velocity Habitats to Juvenile Fish in the Middle Mississippi River

Habitat management is a crucial aspect of fisheries management. Without knowledge of habitat associations, fisheries scientists are unable to effectively make habitat conservation or restoration recommendations. This becomes especially prominent when trying to manage commercially harvested populations and protect threatened or endangered species. To determine juvenile fishes habitat associations in the Middle Mississippi River, we analysed mini‐trawl catch data of six common juvenile fish species: blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), and shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). Overall, we conducted 2251 mini‐trawl sampling efforts between 2002 and 2013, resulting in the capture of 23,742 target specimens. Catch per unit effort was evaluated by structural habitat (i.e. velocity, depth, and substrate). Overall, these data suggest that juvenile fish species are more prevalent in shallow water and slower velocities. Ultimately the information garnered during this evaluation should be incorporated when considering habitat modifications, especially those modifications that impact the availability of shallow‐low velocity habitats. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benchmarking Fluvial Dynamics for Process‐Based River Restoration: the Upper Rhine River (1816–2014)

Multi‐temporal analysis of river‐floodplain processes is a key tool for the identification of reference conditions or benchmarks and for the evaluation of deviations or deficits as a basis for process‐based river restoration in large modified rivers. This study developed a methodology for benchmarking fluvial processes at river segment level, focusing on those interrelations between morphodynamics (aggradation, erosion, channel shift) and vegetation succession (initial, colonization, transition) that condition habitat structure. Habitat maps of the free‐flowing Upper Rhine River downstream from Iffezheim dam (France–Germany border) were intersected with a geographic information system‐based approach. Patches showing trajectories of anthropization, changeless, progression and regression allowed for the identification of natural and human‐induced processes over almost 200 years. Before channelization, the riverine system was characterized by a shifting habitat mosaic with natural heterogeneity, high degree of surface water connectivity and equilibrium between progression and regression processes. On the other hand, the following 175 years of human interventions led to severe biogeomorphologic deficits evidenced by loss of natural processes and habitat heterogeneity, hydrological disconnection between the river and its floodplain and imbalance of progression versus regression dynamics. The main driving forces of change are found in hydromorphological impacts (channelization, regulation and hydropower plant construction). Regression processes are now almost absent and have to be the objective of process‐based river restoration measures for the studied river‐floodplain system. A sustainable view on water management and river restoration should aim at a more resilient riverine system by balancing the recovery of natural processes with societal needs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GIS技术在清洁小流域治理中的应用

GIS技术有便捷的数据管理、强大的空间分析和直观的三维可视化能力,在清洁小流域治理中应用GIS技术,可有效地实现海量数据管理、复杂空间分析与决策支持,为实现美丽乡村提供强大技术支撑。以河南省淅川县草庙沟小流域为例,详细介绍了利用GIS技术进行清洁小流域治理的技术路线。利用GIS技术,可在高分辨率影像上获取准确的各级汇水区、植被覆盖信息和地类信息,再结合实测水质数据和土壤、污染、降雨等调查数据,以清洁小流域示范工程技术指南为技术标准,可便捷直观地划分小流域的各治理分区、进行三维施工设计、经费测算和效益分析。因此,GIS技术的利用可有效提升清洁小流域的管理能力。     

新形势下做好长江入河排污口管理的思考

从长江流域水质现状、入河污染物排放基本情况及国家关于长江经济带绿色发展的总体要求出发,分析了长江水资源保护面临的形势;从长江入河排污口区划、审批、监管及基础工作方面,对入河排污口管理现状进行了简要总结,并对存在的问题进行了梳理。基于长江入河排污口管理面临的形势,提出了长江委强化长江入河排污口管理的总体思路和重点工作,可以为新形势下做好长江入河排污口管理提供参考。     

生态清洁小流域监测及后评价初探

生态清洁小流域监测及后评价对于生态清洁小流域建设效果评估和指导生态清洁小流域后期建设具有重要意义,但目前为止,关于生态清洁小流域建设后的监测及后评价方面的研究较少。鉴于此,以生态清洁小流域作为研究对象,从建设目标的角度出发,针对性选取了对生态清洁小流域建设效果评价具有代表性的监测因子,并简述了监测方法。同时,综合考虑生态清洁小流域"自然-社会-经济"特点,从社会和自然环境两大方面选取10个指标构建生态清洁小流域后评价指标体系,给出了评价方法和评价标准。该研究结果可为生态清洁小流域建设效果评价提供理论依据。     

对口丁坝双岸整治对黄河下游河道冲淤的影响

选取低含沙水沙系列、枯水多沙水沙系列以及规划设计的未来50 a水沙系列,利用黄河下游一维水沙数学模型,模拟计算了对口丁坝双岸治理方案下黄河下游河道在3种水沙系列条件下的冲淤状况。结果表明,游荡性河段采用对口丁坝方案整治后,输沙能力得到了提高,该河段多输送的泥沙一半以上输送到利津以下,其余部分淤积在高村—利津河段,其中淤积以高村—艾山河段为主,艾山—利津河段的冲淤情况与现状相比变化不大。     

变化环境下河流健康评价研究进展

全球以温度升高为主要特征的气候变化耦合人类活动影响,造成了全球性变化环境背景下大范围的水资源危机、水环境污染和水生态退化问题,威胁河流健康,已成为当今世界各国急需解决的难题。针对变化环境背景,分别从河流健康的概念和内涵、河流健康评价的内容、方法及应用等方面,评述近年来国内外河流健康评价的研究进展。将河流健康定义为,特定时期一定的社会公众价值体系下,在保障河流自身基本生存需求的前提下,能够持续地为人类社会提供高效合理的生态服务功能,并实现服务功能综合价值最大化。在前人研究基础上,指出变化环境下河流健康评价研究存在的主要问题,如河流健康概念及内涵仍存在争议,河流健康变化的驱动机制尚不明确,河流健康评价的理论及方法有待完善,河流健康评价实践滞后及评价结果未能有效指导河流管理等。提出变化环境下河流健康评价的发展趋势:以流域为基本空间尺度结合多时间尺度开展河流健康评价与调控研究,因地制宜开展河流健康评价指标体系及评价标准研究,开展基于3S等技术的河流健康评价研究,建立长期且全面的河流健康监测网络,科学界定河流健康的"基准点",以及开展河流健康评价与水资源调控的集成研究等。