Water Quantity Management Research Articles

The impact of water level fluctuations on the year class strength of roach: Implications for fish stock management

Water level fluctuations in a drinking water reservoir (Saidenbach Reservoir, Saxony, Germany) and length–frequency data of roach ( Rutilus rutilus) derived from gillnet catches were studied over a period of eight succeeding years and subsequently analysed with respect to level change and cohort establishment. The results indicate a strong impact of water level on the year class strength of roach. Constantly high water level with large areas of inundated plants led to a very strong roach year class. Conversely, decreasing water level shortly after the spawning period was found to result in a total loss of the new roach year class. Any other possible factors influencing year class strength of roach (such as food, temperature, winter duration) may only play a role if the water level after spawning remained relatively stable. Consequently, water quantity management in reservoirs can be used as a biomanipulation tool to reduce the planktivorous fish stock and to improve water quality, which should be an interesting option especially in drinking water reservoirs.

The baseflow correlation method with multiple gauged sites

Low streamflow estimates are required for water quality and quantity management purposes. The present research investigates the baseflow correlation method using information from multiple gauged sites to estimate low flow statistics at a partial record site. The baseflow correlation method is an information transfer technique that is used to estimate low streamflow statistics at a partial record site by correlating a limited number of measured streamflow discharges during baseflow conditions at the partial record site with those at nearby-gauged sites. Traditionally, the baseflow correlation method has been employed using a single gauged site to transfer information to the partial record site. Seven new estimators using information from multiple gauged sites are proposed and examined in this research, and compared to the baseflow correlation method with a single gauged site. A delete-one cross-validation is performed to assess the baseflow correlation estimators by employing daily streamflow values at more than 1300 USGS HCDN gauged sites. A comparison of using multiple gauged sites with using a single site shows that the performance can be improved by using multiple site information, especially when less than 10 baseflow measurements are used.

Half Full Or Half Empty? Either Way It's Time to Plan

As population growth, climate change, and water quality decline affect the limited water resources of the western United States, local governments, water utilities, and the public must continue their efforts to sustain supplies. Effective management of both water quality and water quantity is especially important for communities in arid and semi arid regions affected by increasing demand and climate variability. Adding to the hardship is the decline in water quality that results from diminished flows during years of drought. Long‐term planning and development of a portfolio of resources to sustain existing water sources to meet the needs of urban, industrial, and agricultural sectors is imperative. Communities and water agencies must work together. The human population can contend with water scarcity only through responsible development, effective resource management, and the realization that the world shares the same finite water supply. Two utilities in the West and Southwest, the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Zone 7 Water Agency in Livermore, California, offer examples of how measures to reduce water demand and protect current supply can be implemented successfully.

Impact of the shift from groundwater to surface water irrigation on aquifer dynamics and hydrochemistry in a semi-arid region in the south of Portugal

In semi-arid regions, the shift from locally extracted groundwater to regionally supplied surface water for irrigation can have a large impact on the aquifer dynamics and hydrochemistry, as is shown for an area of intensive citrus culture in the south of Portugal. Studying the changes that occur is important, particularly in the light of European and national policies that seek to preserve the quality of groundwater and the involved ecosystems. In September 2005, the application of Nitrates Directive 91/676/CEE to the study area led to its designation as a vulnerable zone and the obligation of implementing measures that reduce the risk of nitrate leaching to groundwater. In addition, the area is bordered to the south by the internationally recognized ecosystem of the Ria Formosa lagoon, which requires a careful management of water quantity and quality. This article shows that the substitution of the irrigation source indirectly caused the reduction of the nitrogen load on soil and groundwater. The study is based on a large number of groundwater head and quality data gathered over the past decade. It is observed that irrigation with surface water triggered freshening of the upper aquifer, inverting a long-existing trend of increasing groundwater salinities caused by irrigation with local groundwater. The occurrence of both phenomena in the same aquifer is rather unique and is simulated with the hydrogeochemical software PHREEQC. In terms of aquifer dynamics, a sharp rise of the water table is observed, together with an almost complete attenuation of its interseasonal oscillations. A further rise, which is to be expected in years with average or higher rainfall, could cause the water table to enter the root zone of the citrus trees in some areas, with potentially negative consequences. Therefore, an integrated mixed-source irrigation system using both surface and groundwater is highly recommended.

Transjurisdictional Water Pollution Management in China: The Legal and Institutional Framework

Transjurisdictional water pollution is a major technical and legal problem for the Chinese government and arises from the many problems in the current legal, institutional, and operational framework for water resources and for water environment, planning, and management. The law for pollution and the water law must be seen within the context of the current transition in China from the traditional “rule by law” to “rule of law.” Nevertheless, the common view in China is that each law gives “power” to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) for pollution and the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) for water quantity management. The administrative framework is described, and the role of local government is highlighted as a major reason for failures in enforcing environmental laws. River basin organizations have little administrative power except for flood emergencies and are not mandated to manage river basins in a holistic context. We outline a variety of deficiencies and recommend corrective actions in the Water Pollution Prevention and Control (WPPC) Law. These include such issues as a lack of definition of terminology, an inadequate definition of pollution, a lack of trans-boundary water quality standards, problems of administrative transparency, access to data and information, and several technical issues that cause friction between the two ministries. At the highest level, there is need for a permanent inter-ministerial coordination arrangement to deal with the harmonization of laws, institutional arrangements and operational practices between SEPA and MWR.

Operational water quantity management in a river basin

The real-time water quantity management of complex water resources systems can be successfully supported by mathematical models. Since there were no models available for integrated water management on the catchment scale, a generally applicable model system for quantitative water management has been developed and adapted to the watershed of the River Ruhr in Germany. The first results attained with this model system in the Ruhr catchment basin show that it is a powerful tool for operational water quantity management and is able to simulate a differentially structured watershed with high anthropogenic impacts. The use of this model has enabled Ruhrverband to make crucial improvements and increase the objectivity of operational water quantity management.

Estimation of 7‐day, 10‐year low‐streamflow statistics using baseflow correlation

Estimators of low‐streamflow statistics are often required for water quality and quantity management at gauged and ungauged sites. Here the technique of baseflow correlation is investigated as an estimator of the 7‐day, 10‐year low‐streamflow statistic at ungauged sites. This method uses an information transfer technique to estimate streamflow statistics at an ungauged site by correlating a nominal number of measured streamflow discharges during baseflow conditions at the ungauged site with those at a nearby gauged site. A regional assessment of baseflow correlation estimators is made by employing daily streamflow values at more than 1300 USGS HCDN stream gauge sites. A jackknife simulation is performed in each of the 18 USGS water resource regions located within the conterminous United States. Potential gauged sites are selected using a variety of watershed, geographic, topographic, and geologic classification systems. The results of this study indicate that baseflow correlation performs well in the United States when baseflow measurements are nearly independent and potential gauged sites are located within 200 km. The method is improved as the number of baseflow measurements is increased, although some leveling off of performance was observed with more than 15 baseflow measurements. A comparison of baseflow correlation with regional regression shows that baseflow correlation is the preferred method for estimating low flows in much of the United States.

The EU Water Framework Directive – a key to catchment-based governance

The principles of good water governance require an effective water policy with a clear legal framework and institutional structure for managing river basins and aquifers. Integrated water resources management is essential and decision-making processes must be participatory and transparent. The development of the European Union's Water Framework Directive is outlined, and it is shown how it can serve as the basis of catchment-based governance for the successful management of water quality and quantity in transboundary river basins.

A GIS Methodology for the Real-Time Assessment of Micro-Pollutant Concentration in River: Application to the Lake Biwa Basin in Japan

For integrated water management in the future, the real-time assessment of toxic micro-pollutant concentrations in rivers is required, since these pollutants cause various irreversible and adverse effects in the environment. In this research, a GIS (Geographical Information System) methodology using EMC (Event Mean Concentration) was established for estimating the SS (Suspended Solids) concentration that strongly sorbs organic micro-pollutants. The GIS was applied to the Lake Biwa basin in Japan. On non-point sources, it was found that in some rivers the upstream SS concentrations could become greater than those in downstream, which suggested that the environmental improvement measures in downstream waters are not always appropriate. For effective use of this GIS methodology, the improvement of the GIS model is necessary and up-to-date data should be kept in constant readiness, which leads to an ideal integrated water quantity and quality management in the future.

Introduction of block-wise use of TOPMODEL and Muskingum-Cunge method for the hydroenvironmental simulation of a large ungauged basin

For the sustainable management of water quantity and quality, a hydrological model that can simulate the hydro-environmental dynamics of river basins at arbitrary locations is valuable. There are several streamflow simulation models suitable for such a purpose. Yet the lack of data commonly poses a serious problem for their application. This is a serious problem encountered for the sustainable management of water resources at a basin scale. This paper describes a combination of TOPMODEL with the Muskingum-Cunge flow routing method to overcome the problem at least partially. The resultant block-wise version of TOPMODEL is used to simulate daily flows in the data-rich 3570 km2 Fuji-kawa basin, central Honshu, Japan and in the data-poor 20 750 km2 northern part of Minjiang basin above Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China. The results demonstrate the potential use of the model for hydro-environmental simulation in a large data-poor basin.

Drainage and Water Quality in Northern United States and Eastern Canada

Drainage has been used in the northeastern United States and Canada since colonial times. It has only been since the 1970s that substantial quantities of subsurface drains have been installed annually in Quebec. Drainage in Ontario was first installed in the early 1900s. Today there is an increasing concern that drainage is harmful to the environment. It has only been in recent years that projects have been initiated to evaluate the environmental impacts of agricultural drainage. Both nitrates and pesticides have been detected in agricultural drainage waters, sometimes at concentrations exceeding drinking-water standards. Research has identified the need for integrated management of water quality and quantity. There is a need to quantify the role of preferential flow as a mechanism of pollutant transport in surface and subsurface drainage water and to develop a modeling approach that is applicable at the field and watershed scale.

Effects of climatic variability on the hydrologic response of a freshwater watershed

A generalized watershed model was used to evaluate the effects of global climate changes on the hydrologic responses of freshwater ecosystems. The Enhanced Trickle Down (ETD) model was applied to W-3 watershed located near Danville, Vermont. Eight years of field data was used to perform model calibration and verification and the results were presented in Nikolaidis et al., (1993). Results from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) general circulation models which simulated the doubling of present day atmospheric CO2 scenarios were used to perform the hydrologic simulations for the W-3 watershed. The results indicate that the W-3 watershed will experience increases in annual evapotranspiration and decreases in annual outflow and soil moisture. Stochastic models that simulate collective statistical properties of meteorological time series were developed to generate data to drive the ETD model in a Monte-Carlo fashion for quantification of the uncertainty in the model predictions due to input time series. This coupled deterministic and stochastic model was used to generate probable scenarios of future hydrology of the W-3 watershed. The predicted evapotranspiration and soil moisture under doubling present day atmospheric CO2 scenarios exceed the present day uncertainty due to input time series by a factor greater than 2. The results indicate that the hydrologic response of the W-3 watershed will be significantly different than its present day response. The Enhanced Trickle Down model can be used to evaluate land surface feedbacks and assessing water quantity management in the event of climate change.

Sludge Disposal Concept of Ruhrverband

Since 1913 the Ruhrverband has been responsible for comprehensive water quality and water quantity management in the Ruhr River basin, covering an area of 4,488 km2. In 116 municipal wastewater treatment plants sludges with 59,000 tons of dry solids are annually retained. For the year 2000 a total of 75,000 tons is expected. The paper describes the development of a basin-wide sludge disposal concept under realistic assumptions. As treatment plants of varying sizes are existent, all three applicable routes of sludge disposal must be kept open for the future: 1. agricultural utilization, 2. controlled disposal after dewatering and 3. incineration.

Water quantity management in Dutch polders, adversely affecting the recruitment of northern pike (Esox lucius L.)

Water quantity management in Dutch polders, adversely affecting the recruitment of northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i> L.)

The management of water quantity and the nutrient budget of the waters in Berlin (East)

AbstractThe drinking water consumption in Berlin (East) amounted to about 151.5.106 m3/a, the proportion of the population having been 58= (per‐capita consumption without industry: 200 l/d). About 85= of the resources of groundwater and bank‐filtered river water of 560 × 103m3/d were utilized. The rivers Spree, Dahme and the other tributaries are strongly loaded with nutrients already upstream of Berlin (East). The lake Greater Müggelsee, which is important as a drinking water resource and for recreation, is highly eutrophic. Matter conversion processes and balances as well as effects on the nutrient budget due to changes of sewage treatment processes are explained by the example of the waters in the northern part of Berlin (East). Numerous sanitation and restoration proposals were repeatedly submitted to the competent ministry in the eighties, but only a little part of them was realized.

Simulation von Variablen der Fließgewässerqualität mittels Mehrfachregressionen

AbstractThere are investigated the variables O2, BOD5, seston, NO3‐N, NH4‐N and o‐PO4 from at least five‐year series of five stations along a river section of 50 km. After exclusion of a linear trend and substraction of the individual monthly mean values from the monthly mean of many years in order to eliminate the effect of the annual variation as well as testing for normal distribution, first the correlation coefficients of the variables to the flow rate Q and the temperatures of air and water are determined, which show directional changes just in the longitudinal profile of the river. The same holds for the correlation of the variables between the measuring points. From this the model structure is derived, according to which the concentration at one measuring station can be simulated by multiple regression to Q and T at the same level as well as the concentration at the upper level. The results are discussed in detail and evaluated with respect to their inclusion in longterm management models of water quantity management.

Northern pike (Esox lucius L.) and aquatic vegetation, tools in the management of fisheries and water quality in shallow waters

Species and size composition of fish communities in shallow stagnant waters appear to be associated with the type, abundance and pattern of the vegetation. Man-induced impacts as eutrophication, and suppression of vegetation for reasons of water quantity management or angling pleasure may induce irreversible changes in the aquatic ecosystem. Water quality management should aim at restoring former pike habitat. Submerged weeds are important to that effect. These habitats are characterized by relatively low densities of fish stocks. Stocking of bream and carp interferes strongly with these objectives. With respect to fish stocks, interests of water quality and fishery management may be opposed.

Rural Planning from the Viewpoint of Water Resources Management

Each rural area has a particular character depending on the resources, such as water or land, which control the activity and the existence of the inhabitants in the area. The distinguishing trait of the regional resources in Japan is its open and inter-dependent structure. In the latter period of the Edo era, suburban villages had good connections with cities in the exchange of regional resources, and the balance of regional resources as well as ecology was kept over quite a large area. This was mainly due to the water circulation which brought effective environmental conservation because of its natural selfpurification. It could be said that the structure of regional resources at that time was formed so as to encourage a natural purification of the environment. Agricultural productivity has risen along with increased mechanization and chemicalization which have definitely changed the balance of regional resources in rural and suburban areas . In this process, water use in rural areas has tended to lose its multi-functional character including irrigation, drinking, washing, fire-extinguishing, snowmelting, etc. The most important point is that the separation of the functions has been incomplete . The author pointed out the necessity of recombining certain functions of water use in rural and suburban areas. Those are recombinations between: 1) village drainage and irrigation 2) water quality management and water quantity management 3) water use ordering and land use ordering 4) activities of farmers and non-Laming inhabitants. Nowadays, water development is entering into “the stage of limitation”. We should take it into consideration when we discuss planning for rural and suburban areas

Great Lakes Environmental Protection Policies from a Fisheries Perspective

International policies in environmental protection and resources management in the Great Lakes have evolved in three fields: water quantity and quality management, fisheries management, and air pollution abatement. The general segregation of policy development ignores the complex interplay among air, water, and fisheries resources and the potential to direct wastes to selected receptors. Approaches to environmental and resources management do not deal effectively with root causes in a sufficiently broad context. Socioeconomic information is not used effectively either as yardsticks of environmental quality or as compelling arguments for remedial programs. New approaches are needed toward resources management cum environmental policy, with emphasis on participatory planning across resource sectors to optimize a diversity of long-term benefits to society. Strong political leadership is required to depolarize jurisdictional and bureaucratic empires. The International Joint Commission and Great Lakes Fishery Commission should collaborate to help in identification of issues and root causes, to encourage strategic planning with resource sector and public participation, and to take a broad overview of societal goals and public policy in relation to recognized finite capacity of the Great Lakes ecosystem to maintain quality of life as a long-term premise.Key words: ecosystems, resource management, fisheries management, environmental legislation, international cooperation, international agreements, sociological aspects

Salinity management and water resources development

The interrelationship of salinity management and water management is a factor which is sometimes easily overlooked in the water resources planning, even though it can place a limit on the degree of water resource development within a basin. Costs and control measures of salinity management are considered on a case study of the Colorado River basin where salinity damages are found to be higher than previously estimated. After review of the costs of salinity management, the possible control measures, and research on adaptions in agricultural use of more saline water, it can be concluded that, at very least, the management of water quantity and water quality, especially in arid regions, are closely intertwined.