Reply to comment by Henriette I. Jager and Ryan A. McManamay on “Cumulative biophysical impact of small and large hydropower development in Nu River, China”

Abstract

flows diverted, the length of channels dewatered, and the proportion of time channels are dewatered. These variables are not independent of one another, but each is critical to describing the overall impact of water diversion. Jager and McManamay advise, given the collinearity of metrics, that study conclusions should not derive solely from the number of metrics indicating greater effect from either small or large dams. We also agree on this point. Rather than simplifying study results using quantitative or statistical evaluation across all metrics, we report results derived from individual analysis of each metric. Because our metrics are not independent, we understand that simplification through pooled analysis could indeed be misleading.