Small Lowland Catchment Research Articles

Assessment of Nutrient Loads into the Ryck River and Options for Their Reduction

A massive shift in agricultural practices over the past decades, to support exceptionally high yields and productivities involving intensive agriculture, have led to unsustainable agriculture practices across the globe. Sustenance of such high yields and productivities demand high use of organic and industrial fertilizers. This acts as a negative pressure on the environment. Excessive use of fertilizers leads to nutrient surplus in the fields, which, as a part of catchment runoff, flows into the water bodies as diffuse pollution. These nutrients through rivers are eventually passed into seas. High nutrients ending up into water bodies cause eutrophication. The situation is worsened when such unsustainable agricultural activities are carried out on drained peatlands. As a result, the nutrients that were not part of the nutrient cycle in the landscape for years begin to leach out due to mineralization of peatlands, thereby putting an additional load of nutrients on the environment, that was already under the negative impact of nutrient surplus. In view of the above, a small lowland catchment of the Ryck river in northeast Germany was assessed for its nitrogen losses from agricultural lands through empirical modelling. Initial empirical modelling resulted in an average annual total nitrogen loss of 14.7 kg ha−1 year−1. After a comparative analysis of these results with procured data, the empirical equation was modified to suit the catchment, yielding more accurate results. The study showed that 75.6% of peatlands in the catchment are under agricultural use. Subsequently, a proposal was made for potential wetland buffer zones in the Ryck catchment. Altogether, 13 peatland sites across 8 sub-catchments were recommended for mitigation of high nutrient runoff. In the end, nutrient efficiency of proposed WBZs in one of the sub-catchments of Ryck has been discussed. The results show that (i) the modified empirical equation can act as a key tool in application-based future strategies for nitrogen reduction in the Ryck catchment, (ii) restoration of peatlands and introduction of WBZs can help in mitigating the nutrient runoff for improved water quality of Ryck, and subsequently (ii) contribute to efficient reduction of riverine loads of nutrients into the Baltic Sea.

ANALIZA WYBRANYCH CHARAKTERYSTYK HYDROLOGICZNYCH DWÓCH MAŁYCH ZLEWNI NIZINNYCH

Aim of the study: i. Comparison of characteristic discharges (mean and mean of annual minimum, i.e. mean low discharge) of small lowland river between two periods (1963-1990 and 1991-2020) estimated on the base of field measurements. ii. Comparison of specific discharges of two small catchments of various size in the period 1991-2020. iii. Evaluation of local indirect methods for estimation of mean and mean low discharge applied for the two small catchments. Material and methods: Since 1962, hydrological investigations have been conducted in a small lowland catchment of the Zagożdżonka River. The catchment area is characterized by agro-forested land use, and is located in the south part of the Masovia region, Poland. Continued monitoring of water stages and discharge measurement at the river gauge Płachty Stare were conducted for estimating daily and characteristic discharges for two periods: 1963-1990 and 1991-2020. Other methods were also used for both of the hydrological characteristics. They were based on maps of specific discharges from the Hydrological Atlas of Poland. Results and conclusions: Mean discharge of the Zagożdżonka River at the gauge Płachty Stare between the two periods decreased by 24%. Mean low flow decreased by 43%. Higher evapotranspiration, caused by climate change, i.e. temperature increase and higher ratio of forested area in the catchment, is indicated as the main reason of the changes. Mean specific discharge from the smaller catchment (at Wygoda gauge) was 36% less than from the larger catchment. The application of the indirect methods for estimation of mean and mean low discharges for the larger catchment seems to give satisfactory results.

Hydrological Drought Assessment in a Small Lowland Catchment in Croatia

Hydrological drought is critical from both water management and ecological perspectives. Depending on its hydrological and physical features, the resilience level of a catchment to groundwater drought can differ from that of meteorological drought. This study presents a comparison of hydrological and meteorological drought indices based on groundwater levels from 1987 to 2018. A small catchment area in Croatia, consisting of two sub-catchments with a continental climate and minimum land-use changes during the observed period, was studied. The first analysis was made on a comparison of standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The results showed their very high correlation. The correlation between the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized groundwater index (SGI) of different time scales (1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 months) showed different values, but had the highest value in the longest time scale, 48 months, for all observation wells. Nevertheless, the behavior of the SPI and groundwater levels (GW) correlation showed results more related to physical catchment characteristics. The results showed that groundwater drought indices, such as SGI, should be applied judiciously because of their sensitivity to geographical, geomorphological, and topographical catchment characteristics, even in small catchment areas.

Dynamics of the Natural Afforestation Process of a Small Lowland Catchment and Its Possible Impact on Runoff Changes

Changes in land use have an impact on changes in renewable water resources. Land use especially in the context of urbanization has been and continues to be widely studied. The role of the forests in ecosystems is well known but there is not much research investigating the impact of natural afforestation on water resources. This paper shows the results of the quantitative changes in the use of the lowland catchment in the last 50 years on the example of the Zagożdżonka river located in central Poland. The results show that the impact of climatic factors on the reduction of water resources in the Zagożdżonka catchment is compounded by socio-economic changes in agriculture, and the positive role of forest areas in the catchment depends on the water demand of the stand. The interactions between forest ecosystems and water retention are strong and, depending on the habitat conditions, they may reduce ground runoff and deepen the water deficit in the catchment area in dry periods.

The Field-Scale Investigation of the Low Mobility of Drainage Canal Sediments Polluted by Copper in Lowland Area of Croatia

The sedimentation of drainage canals is a common process and its intensity depends on several geographical and hydrological factors. Drainage canal sediments are frequently polluted by heavy metals or other pollutants; they need to be periodically dredged and ultimately, have to be safely disposed of. Furthermore, pollution in smaller drainages may go undetected because under the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC), catchment areas < 10 km2 do not require monitoring. We investigated the hypothesis that water resources of small sub-catchments exposed to agricultural pollutants accumulate sediment for a longer period (several years) and severely enhance environmental risks. We analyzed the data on sediment mobility in drainage canals for a small lowland catchment in Croatia during 2013–2017. We conducted sediment transport modelling for actual precipitation episodes of a 10-year return period and design precipitation of a 50-year return period. The results indicated that sediments and associated copper pollution persist at the canal bottom for several years, which increases the risk of polluting groundwater and the environment in general. Only copper present at the maximum downstream section of the canal has the possibility of moving to the recipient stream and would only be detected in catchment areas bigger than 10 km2. We proved that smaller water bodies evaluated according to monitoring standards prescribed for the closest larger water can enhance environmental risks.

Modeling the Impact of Ditch Water Level Management on Stream–Aquifer Interactions

Decreasing groundwater levels in many parts of Germany and decreasing low flows in Central Europe have created a need for adaptation measures to stabilize the water balance and to increase low flows. The objective of our study was to estimate the impact of ditch water level management on stream-aquifer interactions in small lowland catchments of the mid-latitudes. The water balance of a ditch-irrigated area and fluxes between the subsurface and the adjacent stream were modeled for three runoff recession periods using the Hydrus-2D software package. The results showed that the subsurface flow to the stream was closely related to the difference between the water level in the ditch system and the stream. Evapotranspiration during the growing season additionally reduced base flow. It was crucial to stop irrigation during a recession period to decrease water withdrawal from the stream and enhance the base flow by draining the irrigated area. Mean fluxes to the stream were between 0.04 and 0.64 ls−1 for the first 20 days of the low-flow periods. This only slightly increased the flow in the stream, whose mean was 57 ls−1 during the period with the lowest flows. Larger areas would be necessary to effectively increase flows in mesoscale catchments.

Scale impacts on spatial variability in reference evapotranspiration

ABSTRACTEvapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important components in the hydrological cycle, and a key variable in hydrological modelling and water resources management. However, understanding the impacts of spatial variability in ET and the appropriate scale at which ET data should be incorporated into hydrological models, particularly at the regional scale, is often overlooked. This is in contrast to dealing with the spatial variability in rainfall data where existing guidance is widely available. This paper assesses the impacts of scale on the estimation of reference ET (ETo) by comparing data from individual weather stations against values derived from three national datasets, at varying resolutions. These include the UK Climate Impacts Programme 50 km climatology (UKCP50), the UK Met Office 5 km climatology (UKMO5) and the regional values published in the Agricultural Climate of England and Wales (ACEW). The national datasets were compared against the individual weather station data and the UKMO5 was shown to provide the best estimate of ETo at a given site. The potential impacts on catchment modelling were then considered by mapping variance in ETo to show how geographical location and catchment size can have a major impact, with small lowland catchments having much higher variance than those with much larger areas or in the uplands. Some important implications for catchment hydrological modelling are highlighted.Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor L. Ruiz

Modelling Runoff on a Small Lowland Catchment, Hungarian Great Plains

Abstract The lowland region of the South-Eastern Carpathian Basin faces extreme hydrological conditions, therefore the more detailed understanding, monitoring and predicting of the hydrological regime on catchments have high importance. However, in the region only few measured data are available in terms of evaporation, runoff, infiltration and water retention, and this is especially true concerning small catchments. In the meantime these areas support extensive agriculture, therefore more information is needed to manage future drying and irrigational demands. In the present research runoff and discharge were modelled for a ten year period and compared to at-a-station measurement data on the Fehértó-majsa Canal, a sub-catchment of the Tisza River, in order to test the predictability of hydrological changes related to future climate change. Modelling was made by applying a coupled MIKE SHE/MIKE 11 model and integrating all available topographic, pedologic, climatic, hydrologic and vegetation data. Consequently, another motivation of the research was to assess the suitability, data demand and limitations of the MIKE modelling environment on lowland catchments. As from all available data sources soil data seemed to be the least accurate, sensitivity tests were made by changing different soil parameter. Based on the results, the developed model is highly suitable for the estimation of annual and monthly runoff. Nevertheless, concerning daily data a general overestimation of discharge was experienced during low flow periods, and a time lag appeared between measured and modelled discharge peaks during high flow periods. In all, the results of the study can greatly support the realization of water management and planning projects in the drought prone sand land catchments where only a few directly measured data are available

Elementy składowe bilansu wodnego odwodnionych dolin rzecznych

The object of study is to analyze the size of the components of the water balance in irrigated river valleys micro-catchments of diverse habitats. The study used the results of research and field observations from the years 2010–2012. Carried out investigations of two small lowland catchments indicate significant impact of meteorological conditions as well as habitats on runoff index, retention changes in analyzed hydrological years. Catchment ditch K-2 is located in Piwonia river basin, and ditch the Z-6 is located in Bystrzyca river basin. The highest rates occurred in the first half of the outflow year 2009/10, and have been DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15576/ASP.FC/2014.13.4.5

Long term shift of low flows predictors in small lowland catchments of Northeast Germany

• Potential evapotranspiration was first-order control on low flow. • Model performance of evapotranspiration variables decreased with lower flows. • Model performance of precipitation variables increased with lower flows. • Iterative variable reduction succeeded to select most relevant low flow predictors. • Results are valuable to improve adaption strategy to sustain minimum runoff. Runoff, especially during summer months, and low flows have decreased in Central and Eastern Europe during the last decades. A detailed knowledge on predictors and dependencies between meteorological forcing, catchment properties and low flow is necessary to optimize regional adaption strategies to sustain minimum runoff. The objective of this study is to identify low flow predictors for 16 small catchments in Northeast Germany and their long-term shifts between 1965 and 2006. Non-linear regression models (support vector machine regression) were calibrated to iteratively select the most powerful low flow predictors regarding annual 30-day minimum flow (AM 30 ). The data set consists of standardized precipitation (SPI) and potential evapotranspiration (SpETI) indices on different time scales and lag times. The potential evapotranspiration of the previous 48 and 3 months, as well as the precipitation of the previous 3 months and last year were the most relevant predictors for AM 30 . Pearson correlation ( r 2 ) of the final model is 0.49 and if for every year the results for all catchments are averaged r 2 increases to 0.80 because extremes are smoothing out. Evapotranspiration was the most important low flow predictor for the study period. However, distinct long-term shifts in the predictive power of variables became apparent. The potential evapotranspiration of the previous 48 months explained most of the variance, but its relevance decreased during the last decades. The importance of precipitation variables increased with time. Model performance was higher at catchments with a more damped discharge behavior. The results indicate changes in the relevant processes or flow paths generating low flows. The identified predictors, temporal patterns and patterns between catchments will support the development of low flow monitoring systems and determine those catchments where adaption measures should aim more at increasing groundwater recharge.

Multiobjective calibration for comparing channel sediment routing models in the soil and water assessment tool.

Sediment transport is important for ecology and water quality in receiving waters. Physically based channel erosion methods were implemented in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool version 2009 (SWAT2009) to improve sediment concentration (SS) results. In the study, the default simplified Bagnold sediment routing method (EQN-0) and the physically based simplified Bagnold sediment routing method (EQN-1) were compared with Pareto fronts from multiobjective calibration. Two SWAT models using EQN-0 and EQN-1 were set up for a small agricultural Danish catchment and calibrated with multiobjective calibration on daily and weekly flow-weighted SS (WF SS). Results showed that the Pareto front of EQN-1 was slightly closer to the optimal point than EQN-0 in the objective space. Trade-off between WF SS and daily flow in EQN-1 was smaller than in EQN-0. The EQN-0 method generated more surface erosion to improve WF SS. The EQN-1 method generated more base flow to improve WF SS. The EQN-1 method was less dependent on surface erosion and simulated peak and low values of WF SS better than EQN-0. Therefore, EQN-1 is more suitable than EQN-0 in modeling SS in small lowland catchments.

Hydrologically driven seasonal changes in the sources and production mechanisms of dissolved organic carbon in a small lowland catchment

[1] To obtain better constraints on the control of seasonal hydrological variations on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics in headwater catchments, we combined hydrometric monitoring with high-frequency analyses of DOC concentration and DOC chemical composition (specific UV adsorption, δ13C) in soil and stream waters during one complete hydrological cycle in a small lowland catchment of western France. We observed a succession of four hydrological periods, each corresponding to specific DOC signatures. In particular, the rise of the upland water table at the end of the rewetting period yielded to a strong increase of the specific UV absorbance (from 2.5 to 4.0 L mg C−1 m−1) and of the δ13C values (from −29 to −27‰) of the soil DOC. Another striking feature was the release of large amounts of DOC during reduction of soil Fe-oxyhydroxides at the end of the high-flow period. Comparison of hydrometric data with DOC composition metrics showed that soils from the upland domains were rapidly DOC depleted after the rise of the water table in these domains, whereas wetland soils acted as quasi-infinite DOC sources. Results from this study showed that the composition and ultimate source of the DOC exported to the stream will depend on the period within the annual hydrological cycle. However, we found that the aromatic DOC component identified during the high-flow period will likely represent the dominant DOC component in stream waters on an annual basis, because most of the annual stream DOC flux is exported during such periods.

Climate change impacts on the leaching of a heavy metal contamination in a small lowland catchment

The Keersop catchment (43 km 2) in the south of The Netherlands has been contaminated by the emissions of four zinc ore smelters. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of future projected climate change on the hydrology and the leaching of heavy metals (i.e. Cd and Zn) in the catchment. The numerical, quasi-2D, unsaturated zone Soil Water Atmosphere Plant model was used with 100-year simulated daily time series of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. The time series are representative of stationary climates for the periods 1961–1990 (“baseline”) and 2071–2100 (“future”). The time series of future climate were obtained by downscaling the results of eight regional climate model (RCM) experiments, driven by the SRES A2 emissions scenario, using change factors for a series of climate statistics and applying them to stochastic weather generator models. The time series are characterized by increased precipitation in winter, less precipitation in summer, and higher air temperatures (between 2 °C and 5 °C) throughout the year. Future climate scenarios project higher evapotranspiration rates, more irrigation, less drainage, lower discharge rates and lower groundwater levels, due to increased evapotranspiration and a slowing down of the groundwater system. As a result, lower concentrations of Cd and Zn in surface water are projected. The reduced leaching of heavy metals, due to drying of the catchment, showed a positive impact on a limited aspect of surface water quality.

Identification and management of nitrogen retention in a shallow groundwater-stream system of a small lowland catchment (Northern Germany)

Identification and management of nitrogen retention in a shallow groundwater-stream system of a small lowland catchment (Northern Germany)

The aquatic macrophytes of an English lowland river system: assessing response to nutrient enrichment

Assessment of the effects of nutrients in running water upon macrophytes is compounded by the variety of additional environmental factors which influence their growth. Some classification schemes have been effective in detecting eutrophication on a national or regional scale, and also downstream changes in large single catchments. However, in lowland rivers with naturally nutrient-rich geologies, detection of change at smaller spatial scales has been difficult. This study examined the macrophyte community at 44 sites on the river Welland, a small lowland catchment rising below 150 m in Leicestershire, England. The community at 23 of these sites was adequate for further analysis. The data show that the clearest effect on community composition is caused by watercourse size. However, sites below sewage works, even small village works, did show a reduction in Mean Trophic Rank, (MTR – an assesment system introduced into the UK over the last three years using a 10–100 scale based upon scores and cover value of indicator species). Overall there was a slight but significant correlation of MTR with soluble phosphate and nitrate. The effectiveness of the MTR method is limited at full catchment scale by low numbers of the indicator taxa at small upstream sites. Catchment-scale assessment of the plant community is probably best served by more detailed phytosociological analysis and by the further development of the ‘habitat templet’ approach.

Late Holocene paleoecology and sedimentary history of a small lowland catchment in central England

A variety of paleoecological and sedimentary techniques were used to investigate the storage of sediment within a small lowland catchment during the Holocene. Radiocarbon dating of vertically accreted floodplain deposits allowed the calculation of inorganic accumulation rates. These rates show a dramatic increase in sediment deposition during the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age (2900-2300 yr B.P.) due to deforestation and cultivation of the catchment slopes and resultant soil erosion. The soils within the catchment were susceptible to structural damage, surface waterlogging, and slope-wash erosion. From the calculated increases in sediment storage estimates of catchment erosion were made which vary from around 20 to 140 tons km −2 yr −1. The study of alluvial chronology at this scale can provide unique information on the source areas of Holocene floodplain sediments and provide long-term erosion rates.

Infiltration measurements in a small lowland catchment

Infiltration rates into the glacial boulder clay of Northern Ireland, U.K., were determined from cylinder infiltrometers and from hydrograph analyses in a small instrumented catchment. Infiltrometer readings were made monthly at eleven sites in the catchment for a year. Organic matter appears to be the most important site factor controlling infiltration capacity with slope next in importance. Other factors investigated as site controls on infiltration capacity were soil texture and antecedent soil moisture. Infiltration capacity varied little from site to site at any time of year and was always very low, even in summer. Mean infiltration capacity determined from these site readings for the whole catchment varies from 0.6 mm hr. −1 in January to ∼ 9 mm hr −1 in June. Site variation was greatest in summer. The maximum site reading obtained was 19.7 mm hr. −1 in June. “Average infiltration” rates determined from conventional hydrograph analyses are very similar to the infiltration capacities determined for the whole catchment from the infiltrometer readings, especially in winter. The close similarity in winter between infiltration rates determined from the two independent methods suggests in fact that they each measure the same process (i.e. surface infiltration capacity) or that the process of infiltration is relatively uniform through the soil profile and proceeds at a rate close to the infiltration capacity. The possible occurrence of overland flow is discussed in the light of the results.

Storm runoff from small lowland catchments in southwest England

An analysis is made of storm-runoff events for eight small lowland catchments with clay soils in southwest England. Unit-hydrograph shape is shown to be related to antecedent soil moisture, stream slope and degree of urbanisation. Storm-runoff volume is found to relate to soil-moisture deficit and to storm rainfall. Regression models are presented which can be used to predict streamflow hydrographs on ungauged catchments of similar types from specified rainfall, antecedent soil-moisture and catchment characteristics.

THE SIMPLIFIED INTEGRAL MATHEMATICAL MODEL ON A SMALL LOWLAND CATCHMENT / L'utilisation du modèle simplifié intégral-mathématique sur un petit bassin versant situé dans le terrain bas

Abstract The model presented has been developed for a small lowland catchment considered to be homogeneous and consequently allowing the adoption of a lumped-parameter model. The model incorporates all the most important hydrological processes occurring in the catchment: evapotranspiration infiltration, groundwater flow, surface runoff and snowmelt. Each of these processes is modelled separately, that is to say, the parameters expressing the given process in descriptive terms result from the effect of the optimization (minimization) of the functions with a specific objective. Nonstationarity of the system is taken into account by dividing the year into two periods: a winter and a summer season, where the conditions for the run of some hydrological processes are very variable and, consequently, the processes of infiltration and surface runoff have been identified separately for each period on two occasions.