Hydro-Morphological Assessment of Dittaino River, Eastern Sicily, Italy

Feliciana Licciardello,Salvatore M Muratore,Attilio Toscano,Giuseppe L Cirelli,Emanuela R Giuffrida,Salvatore Barbagallo

doi:10.3390/w13182499

Feliciana Licciardello, Salvatore M Muratore + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w13182499

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Sep 11, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Catania, University of Bologna

Abstract

The present conditions of the Dittaino River were investigated by using tools addressing different components of the IDRAIM (stream hydro-morphological evaluation, analysis, and monitoring system) procedure. After the segmentation of the river, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and the Morphological Dynamic Index (MDI) were assessed to analyze its morphological quality and to classify the degree of channel dynamics related to progressive changes occurring in the relative long-term (i.e., 50–100 years), respectively. The results show that 45% and 22% of the analyzed reaches (mainly located in highest zones of the hydrographic network) were, respectively, of high and good quality. The MQI class decreased to good and then to moderate in the downstream direction, and two reaches were of poor class. The highest MDI classes were also mainly identified in the highest zones of the hydrographic network. Some limitations (i.e., the elevated number of indicators, as well as their simplification) and strengths (i.e., the easy applicability to a large number of reaches) were identified during the application of the MQI method to the Dittaino River.

Highlights

During the fluvial characterization of the Dittaino River, the confinement degree of During the fluvial characterization of the Dittaino River, the confinement degree of all reaches was found to be correlated negatively with the drainage area and the mean all reaches was found to be correlated negatively with the drainage area and the mean width of the active channel, while it was positively correlated with the mean channel width of the active channel, while it was positively correlated with the mean channel slope
Most rivers and streams, especially in the semi-arid regions of the southern Mediterranean, present a mixture of permanent flow and natural intermittent flow regimes. This can influence the development of macrophite communities, primarily by increasing the competition for space and resources, since habitats shrink, and the water quality deteriorates during low flow conditions [44]. In this fluvial system, the mean values of length, width of the active channel, and the confinement index increased with the reach order, and the mean values of confinement degree and channel slope decreased with the reach order
The variability in confinement degree and mean channel slope was greater for reaches of a lower order, while the variability in confinement index, length, mean width of the active channel, and drainage area was greater for reaches of a higher order

Summary

Introduction

Rivers are dynamic natural systems that evolve in terms of their longitudinal and lateral sediment and morphological continuum through ongoing reworking processes [1]. The resulting morphological changes can occur at the reach scale over short periods of time and limited spatial extents, or over long time intervals (from tens to thousands of years) and involve the entire river system [2]. The alterations may be of natural origin, or they may be anthropogenic [3]. As a response to these alterations, the river adjusts its channel geometry in order to re-establish a dynamic equilibrium between sediment supply and available transport capacity by changing the characteristic channel variables [4,5]

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