Abstract
The objective of this study is to use two hydrological indices (coefficients of variation and immoderation) to analyze the impacts of dam management methods on seasonal daily flow rate change downstream of three dams: Manouane (diversion-type management method), Ouareau (natural-type management method) and Matawin (inversion-type management method). The results show that this change is far greater downstream of the Matawin dam (characterized by an inversion-type management method) than downstream of the two other dams. Moreover, downstream of the Matawin dam, this daily flow rate change increases significantly over time, while decreasing downstream of the two other dams and in natural rivers. Lastly, this change is better correlated with climate downstream of the Ouareau dam than downstream of the two other dams. It is positively correlated with winter and spring temperatures as well as summer and fall rain. Contrary commonly accepted hypothesis, this study shows that the impacts of dams generally result in an increase of the seasonal flow rate change in Quebec.
Highlights
A comparison of the means of the two seasonal flow rate change indices in natural rivers and downstream of dams during all four seasons is presented in Table 1
A comparison of the two seasonal flow rate change indices in natural rivers and downstream of dams in three watersheds in Quebec revealed the influence of two factors: dam management methods and seasons
No studies have ever looked at flow rate change at the seasonal level
Summary
According to the ecological concept of natural flow [1,2], river flow can be broken down into five core characteristics: magnitude, duration, timing, frequency and variability. Of these five characteristics, variability is the least studied in both aquatic ecology and hydrology. In natural rivers, both ecologically and geomorphologically speaking, this characteristic significantly influences the functioning and evolution of river ecosystems, just as much as the other four characteristics. As has already been mentioned by Assani et al [3], macrophytes and riparian vegetation are influenced by flow rate change
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