Quantifying the impacts of a proposed hydraulic dam on groundwater flow behaviors and its eco-environmental implications in the large Poyang Lake-floodplain system

Abstract

Dam-induced hydrological alterations and eco-environmental impacts have significant implications, however, these concern issues in large floodplain systems are less well understood. The present study shows a first attempt to adopt a quasi-three-dimensional groundwater flow modeling FEFLOW (Finite Element subsurface FLOW system) to investigate the influences of a proposed hydraulic dam on groundwater dynamics in the largest floodplain lake of the Yangtze River basin (Poyang Lake, China). The FEFLOW model was successfully constructed and has the ability to represent the hydrodynamics of floodplain groundwater flow. Model simulations indicate that, in general, the dam is likely to increase the groundwater levels across the floodplain during different hydrological phases. The responses of floodplain groundwater levels to the dam during the dry and recession phases are stronger (∼2–3 m) than the rising and flooding phases (<2 m). Under the natural condition, the floodplain groundwater may recharge the lake during the dry and recession phases, and discharge the lake during the rising and flooding phases. However, the dam regulation may alter the natural recharge-discharge patterns, forming a generally gaining condition of the floodplain groundwater. The proposed dam is most likely to reduce the groundwater flow velocity (∼<1 m/d) relative to the natural condition (up to 2 m/d) during different hydrological phases, and it may also alter the floodplain groundwater flow direction during the dry and recession phases. Additionally, the floodplain groundwater system is mainly characterized by losing state (−4.5 × 106 m3/yr) under the natural condition, while the dam-induced groundwater system exhibits an overall gaining state (9.8 × 106 m3/yr). The current research findings contribute to future water resources assessment and management by providing a foundation for assessing associated eco-environmental changes of the large lake-floodplain system.