Water Management Strategies Research Articles

Analysis of Key Environmental Variables Affecting Fish Communities and Species Distribution in Asian Lotic Ecosystems

In 2011, Korea installed artificial structures on four rivers to secure water resources and reduce flood damage; however, these structures have altered ecosystems and aquatic communities. This study analyzed fish communities and environmental variables at 72 sites in the Geumgang River. Fish communities and environmental variables before weir installation were examined using site data from 2008 to 2009. The results showed that Cyprinidae dominated the 70 observed species. A self-organizing map categorized the 72 sites into four groups based on fish communities. Sensitive and insectivorous species decreased, whereas tolerant and omnivorous species increased from Groups I to IV. Twenty-one indicator species were identified, with fewer and less distinct distribution patterns in Groups II and III than in Groups I and IV. The fish assessment index (FAI) showed a decline in grades A and B and an increase in grades C and D from Groups I to IV. Correlation analysis between the FAI and environmental variables indicated that fish communities in the Geumgang River were mainly influenced by water quality, reflecting altitude gradients and pollution levels. This study’s findings are anticipated to significantly inform water management strategies for the Geumgang, Yeongsangang, Nakdonggang, and Hangang Rivers.

Analysis of Water Dynamics at the Effluent Treatment Station of Cooperoque: Evaluation of Precipitation, Evaporation, and Infiltration of Effluent from a Milk Refrigeration Station

Purpose: The study aims to analyze water dynamics at the Cooperoque Effluent Treatment Station, focusing on the interactions between precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration to enhance water resource management. Theoretical reference: The research references various studies and methodologies related to the quantification of evaporation from lakes and reservoirs, particularly in semi-arid regions, utilizing the Jensen-Haise Method for evaporation estimation. The research aligns with previous studies, such as Mallmann (2014), on water infiltration in soil management, emphasizing the importance of understanding water dynamics for sustainable resource management. Method: The study employs the Jensen-Haise Method to calculate evaporation rates, covering the period from January 2023 to October 2024. It examines the effects of precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration on tank levels. Results and conclusion: The results reveal that tank levels are influenced by precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration, with more significant declines during dry months and smaller reductions during periods of high precipitation. Evaporation rates, calculated using the Jensen-Haise Method, are higher in warmer months, contributing to lower tank levels, while these rates decrease in colder months. A notable anomaly occurred in May 2024 when effluent infiltration exceeded the volume of generated effluents and rainfall due to the activation of an irrigation system. Key findings indicate that lake levels drop more during dry months, with a significant negative water balance observed in May 2024 due to excessive infiltration during heavy rainfall. The study concludes that adaptive water management strategies are necessary to address climatic variations and improve the efficiency of the effluent treatment system. Implications of research: The research provides valuable insights for developing adaptive water management strategies to address climatic variations and improve the efficiency of effluent treatment systems. Continuous monitoring is emphasized as crucial for sustainable water resource management. Originality/value: The study highlights the complex interactions between precipitation, evaporation, and effluent dynamics, offering a foundation for improved water management practices and contributing to the preservation of regional water resources. The study contributes to the understanding of water dynamics at effluent treatment stations, offering practical insights for managing water resources effectively. It highlights the importance of adaptive strategies and continuous monitoring to maintain pond levels and optimize the treatment process.

A Localized Evaluation of Surface Water Quality Using GIS-Based Water Quality Index along Satpara Watershed Skardu Baltistan, Pakistan

Surface water quality in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, is of immense importance because of the city’s dependence on these resources for domestic uses, agriculture, and drinking water. The water quality index (WQI) was integrated with the Geographic Information System (GIS) to spatially envision and examine water quality data to facilitate the identification of pollution hotspots, trend analysis, and knowledge-based decision-making for effective water resource management. This study aims to evaluate the physiochemical and bacteriological parameters of the Satpara watershed and to provide the spatial distribution of these parameters. This study endeavors to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) by identifying localities with excellent and unfit water for drinking, sanitation, and hygiene. A total of fifty-one surface water samples were collected from various parts of the Satpara watershed during the fall season of 2023. Well-established laboratory techniques were used to investigate water for parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDSs), major cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+), major anions (Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, HCO3−), and bacteriological contaminants (E. coli). Spatial distribution maps of all these parameters were created using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) technique in a GIS environment. A significant variation in the quality of water was observed along the study area. The level of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination is above the permissible limit at various locations along the watershed, making water unsafe for direct human consumption in these areas. Some regions showed low TDS values, which could adversely affect human health and agricultural yield. From the WQI valuation, 58.82% of the collected samples were “Poor”, 31.8% were “Very poor” and 9.8% were found to be “Unfit for drinking”. The research findings emphasize the pressing need for consistent monitoring and adoption of water management strategies in Skardu City to warrant sustainable soil and water use. The spatial maps generated for various parameters and the water quality index WQI offer critical insights for targeted intercessions.

Methane Emission in a Small-Scale Rice Field under Two Different Water Management Strategies – An Insight for Landscape Level Adjustments

Methane Emission in a Small-Scale Rice Field under Two Different Water Management Strategies – An Insight for Landscape Level Adjustments

Tropical cyclone-induced rainfall variability and its implications for drought in Taiwan: Insights from 1981 to 2022

This study analyzes the interplay between tropical cyclones (TCs) and drought in Taiwan over the period from 1981 to 2022, leveraging data from CHIRPS, FLDAS, IBTrACS, and Sentinel and Landsat satellite imagery. Our findings reveal a significant decline in TC-induced rainfall over the last decade, with a turning point in 2017. We establish a low to moderate positive correlation between TC-induced rainfall and subsequent spring soil moisture levels, with April exhibiting the strongest connection. This relationship strengthens in transitions from agricultural to forested areas. Additionally, our research identifies a robust correlation (r = 0.77) between TC-induced rainfall and reservoir water levels, underscoring the consistent link between TCs and hydrological drought. However, intriguing disparities emerge in water availability patterns. In 2007 and 2020, reservoirs maintained normal levels despite reduced typhoon rainfall in prior years. Conversely, in 2019, water shortages occurred despite typical TC-induced rainfall. These cases suggest that water availability is influenced by factors beyond TCs, including water demand, infrastructure, monsoon and spring rainfall, air temperature, and water management strategies. Furthermore, we uncover a symmetrical relationship between TCs and monsoon-induced rainfall, indicating their potential to balance reservoir water supply. Nevertheless, both TCs and the monsoon exhibit declining trends in the past decade, heightening the risk of spring season water scarcity in Taiwan. Effective water resource management demands consideration of natural and anthropogenic factors, encompassing land use changes, deforestation, production activities, water pollution, and policy strategies. These measures are essential to mitigate water scarcity and promote sustainability in Taiwan.

Sequential decline in cyanobacterial, total prokaryotic, and eukaryotic responses to backward flow in a river connected to Lake Taihu

River ecosystems face escalating challenges due to altered flow regimes from human activities, such as urbanization with hydrological modifications. Understanding the role of microbial communities for ecosystems with changing flow regimes is still incomplete and remains at the frontier of aquatic microbial ecology. In particular, influences of riverine backward flow on the aquatic biota remain largely unknown. Therefore, we examined the impact of backward flow on the cyanobacterial, total prokaryotic, and eukaryotic communities in the Changdougang River, which naturally flows into Lake Taihu, through environmental DNA metabarcoding. We analyzed the differences in community diversity, assembly, and ecological network stability among groups under backward, weak, and forward flow direction conditions. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed higher variations in communities of groups across flow direction conditions than seasonal groups. Variations in alpha and beta diversity showed that cyanobacterial and total prokaryotic communities experienced strong homogenization under backward flow conditions, whereas the ecological uniqueness of the eukaryotic community decreased. Assembly of the three flow-related communities was primarily governed by drift and dispersal limitation in stochastic processes. However, in the cyanobacterial community, homogeneous selection in deterministic processes increased from 22.79% to 42.86% under backward flow, aligning with trends observed in the checkerboard score (C-score). More importantly, the topological properties of ecological networks and the degree of average variation revealed higher stability in the cyanobacterial community compared to total prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. Considering the variations in cohesion, the network stability in the cyanobacterial community decreased under backward flow. Our findings emphasize the distinct and sequentially diminishing responses of cyanobacterial, total prokaryotic, and eukaryotic communities to backward flowing rivers. This knowledge is crucial for maintaining ecological health of rivers, assessing the complex ecological impacts on hydrological engineering, and formulating sustainable water management strategies.

Distribution of evapotranspiration components along vertical layers and their controls in dry days of larch plantation in the Liupan Mountains of northwest China

Precise quantification of forest evapotranspiration (ETf) including transpiration from tree (Tt), shrub (Ts), and herb (Th) layers, as well as evaporation from litter (El) and soil (Es) layers, and elucidating their responses to environmental conditions and stand structures are crucial for forest water management in water-limited forests. In this study, we observed the Tt, Ts, Th, El, and Es, reference evapotranspiration (ETo), soil volumetric water content (SWC), litter water content (LWC), leaf area index (LAI) in tree, shrub, and herb layers, and canopy shade (Ksc) from tree layer of the Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation during the dry days from May to October of 2021 and 2022 to elucidate the distribution of evapotranspiration along vertical layers and their environmental and structural determinants. The results indicated that the contributions of Tt, Ts, Th, El, and Es to ETf during the dry days in 2021 (2022) were 42.1 % (44.7 %), 9.2 % (8.1 %), 8.2 % (8.6 %), 15.0 % (13.1 %), and 25.5 % (25.5 %), respectively. Although Tt and Ts demonstrated quadratic relationships with ETo, Th, El, and Es exhibited linear relationships. All ETcs demonstrated a saturated exponential relationship with either SWC or LWC. Furthermore, Tt, Ts, and Th showed a saturated exponential relationship with their respective LAI, whereas El and Es exhibited a cubic relationship with LAI in tree layers. All understory ETcs (Ts, Th, El, and Es) decreased exponentially with the Ksc. The multi-factor models of evapotranspiration component (ETc) from different vertical layers, which coupled the impacts of environmental conditions and vertical structure, were developed, and provided superior accuracy (R2 = 0.78–0.88, NSE = 0.78–0.86, RSME = 0.03–0.16). Such insights deepened the understanding of vertical structural distribution and multi-factor responses of ETcs in forest ecosystems and hold the potential to inform and optimise forest water management strategies.

Evolution mechanism of physical morphology of oxbow lake in the middle Yangtze River

Oxbow lakes, formed through river meandering cutoffs, are recognized as key components of river ecosystems, characterized by both fluvial and lacustrine features. The focus of previous research has been placed primarily on post-disconnection changes, leaving gaps in the understanding of their long-term morphological evolution. This gap is addressed through a comparative analysis of gate-controlled and naturally connected oxbow lakes over a 30-year period. In this study, Tian’ezhou Lake (gate-controlled) and Shangchewan Lake (naturally connected), located in the middle Yangtze River, are investigated. Key morphological parameters such as curvature, shoreline development index, and shrinkage rate were measured using Google Earth Engine (GEE). The influence of hydrological and meteorological factors on lake morphology was analyzed through Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Significant morphological changes were observed from 1990 to 2000. During this period, Tian’ezhou’s curvature was found to increase by 0.003/year, while Shangchewan’s curvature decreased by 0.011/year. After the construction of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), a reduction in the rate of morphological evolution was detected, particularly between 2000 and 2010, when Tian’ezhou’s curvature decreased by 0.071/year and Shangchewan’s increased by 0.04/year. Post-2010, no significant changes in planar morphology were recorded in either lake. It was revealed by RDA that annual precipitation from 1990 to 1999 played a dominant role in influencing the morphological evolution of both lakes. From 2000 to 2020, water level fluctuations and hydrological connectivity emerged as the primary drivers. Gate control at Tian’ezhou Lake mitigated extreme water level fluctuations, contributing to a more stable environment and a slower rate of morphological evolution compared to Shangchewan. The findings underscore the importance of balanced water management strategies, integrating both natural and engineered hydrological interventions. Practical guidance is provided for ecological restoration and river management, with an emphasis on maintaining stable habitats and ensuring ecosystem resilience in response to hydrological changes.

Enhancing flocculation and dewatering performance of fine phosphate tailings: A sustainable approach for water resources management

The sustainable recovery of water from fine phosphate tailings (FPTs) is essential for reducing water consumption and mitigating the environmental risks associated with phosphate beneficiation operations, particularly during tailings storage. Dewatering through enhanced flocculation techniques is among the most sustainable management practices in the mining industry. However, the interactions between phosphate tailings and polymers remain insufficiently explored, particularly in the context of the flocculation process. To address this, the present study investigates the improvement of dewatering performance through optimized flocculation techniques. Fourteen flocculants, including anionic, nonionic, and cationic types, were assessed for their effectiveness in enhancing water recovery, sedimentation rates, and turbidity reduction. Among the tested flocculants, polyethylene oxide (PEO 4 M) and anionic polyacrylamide (AN923) exhibited superior performance, achieving water recovery rates exceeding 84 %, solid contents above 38 %, and settling rates over 13.9 cm/min, along with significant turbidity reductions to below 4.40 NTU. Insights into the adsorption mechanisms, derived from zeta potential measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, revealed that anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) induces flocculation primarily through hydrogen bonding and polymer bridging, whereas polyethylene oxide (PEO) operates via hydrophobic interactions and charge neutralization. These findings lay the groundwork for more sustainable water management strategies in phosphate mining, enhancing both resource efficiency and environmental protection.

A hybrid technique to enhance the rainfall-runoff prediction of physical and data-driven model: a case study of Upper Narmada River Sub-basin, India

Accurate streamflow prediction is crucial for effective water resource management and planning. This study aims to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in the data-scarce Upper Narmada River Basin (UNB) by proposing a novel hybrid approach, ANNHybrid, which combines a physically-based model (WEAP) with a data-driven model (ANN). The WEAP model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow data, while the ANN model was trained and tested using meteorological variables and simulated streamflow. The ANNHybrid model integrates simulated flow from both WEAP and ANN to improve prediction accuracy. The results demonstrate that the ANNHybrid model outperforms the standalone WEAP and ANN models, with higher NSE values of 95.5% and 92.3% during training and testing periods, respectively, along with an impressive R2 value of 0.96. The improved streamflow predictions can support better decision-making related to water allocation, reservoir operations, and flood and drought risk assessment. The novelty of this research lies in the development of the ANNHybrid model, which leverages the strengths of both physically-based and data-driven approaches to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in data-limited regions. The proposed methodology offers a promising tool for sustainable water management strategies in the UNB and other similar catchments.

Assessment of the Impact of LID Techniques on Water Cycle Recovery in Industrial Complexes

Urbanization and industrialization have significantly disrupted the natural water cycle, leading to increased runoff, flooding, and groundwater depletion. Research on LID (Low Impact Development) techniques is ongoing in order to address these challenges. This study has analyzed the improvement in the water cycle system by applying LID techniques to the Daejeongcheon watershed in Ulsan. Using SWMM, this study has assessed the long-term effects of LID on runoff reduction and water cycle recovery rate improvement. Based on local climate data, topographical information, and regional characteristics, LID elements such as permeable pavements, green roofs, bioretention, and vegetative swales were applied. The results showed that the LID techniques reduced runoff by 8.44% and also improved the water cycle recovery rate by 13.52%. Additionally, the study confirmed that LID techniques effectively contributed to managing runoff from the 25.5 mm rainfall management target. LID techniques are expected to serve as sustainable water management strategies in urbanized and industrialized areas, offering effective restoration and management solutions.

Long-term analysis of reference evapotranspiration variations in the lower Bhavani basin

Evapotranspiration is a crucial component of the hydrological cycle and is profoundly influenced by climate change. Assessing regional evapotranspiration changes is essential for effective water resource management. The study investigated the dynamics of reference evapotranspiration in the Lower Bhavani Basin, a region with diverse landscapes increasingly vulnerable to climatic variability. Reference evapotranspiration data from the Food and Agriculture Organization using the AgERA5 dataset was analyzed to assess annual and seasonal trends from 2000 to 2022. The result showed that the mean yearly reference evapotranspiration in the basin is 1672.87 mm, with a significant decline of 3.53 mm per year. Seasonal analysis revealed a consistent decreasing trend across all seasons, with the southwest monsoon season showing the most significant reduction in evapotranspiration rates. The notable shift in the annual evapotranspiration rate was observed in 2016, highlighting the impact of climate change. Further, temperature, solar radiation and relative humidity were identified as the dominant factors influencing evapotranspiration rates in the basin. The relative moisture index indicated prevalent dry conditions, making the region susceptible to water stress. The findings provide critical insights for regional water resources management and accentuate the need for sustainable water management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Enhanced soil moisture–temperature coupling could exacerbate drought under net-negative emissions

Our understanding of drought evolution and land-atmosphere interactions under climate mitigation scenarios remains limited. Here, we analyzed future drought under net-zero and net-negative emission scenarios using the Community Earth System Model version 2, particularly focusing on three atmospheric CO2 states: linearly increases, decreases, and a return to the initial state. Interestingly, results revealed that net-zero emissions are more effective for drought mitigation than net-negative targets. Drying trends and drought characteristics — such as the duration, frequency, intensity, and area expansion are prominently increased under net-negative emissions due to higher potential evapotranspiration (PET). This is because the soil moisture and temperature couplings are stronger over drought regions and years, especially under net-negative forcing, with notable impacts in Central Africa and South Asia. Nevertheless, both target scenarios offer regional benefits, such as weakened dryness. This suggests that mitigating CO2 alone may not be sufficient to manage future droughts, highlighting the need for advanced water management strategies.

Multi-Index Approach to Assess and Monitor Meteorological and Agricultural Drought in the Mediterranean Region: Case of the Upper Oum Er Rabia Watershed, Morocco

Drought is a severe disaster, increasingly exacerbated by climate change, and poses significant challenges worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Morocco. This study aims to assess and monitor drought using a multi-index approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of its spatio-temporal dynamics at both meteorological and agricultural levels. The research focuses on the Upper Oum Er Rabia watershed, which spans 35,000 km2 and contributes approximately a quarter of Morocco’s renewable water resources. We propose a methodology that combines ERA5 temperature data from remote sensing with ground-based precipitation data to analyze drought characteristics. Three meteorological indices were utilized: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI). Additionally, three remote-sensing indices were employed to capture agricultural drought: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), with a total of 528 NDVI and EVI images and 1016 CWSI images generated through Google Earth Engine (GEE), using machine-learning techniques. Trend analyses were conducted to monitor drought patterns spatio-temporally. Our results reveal that the three-month interval is critical for effective drought monitoring and evaluation. Among the indices, SPEI emerged as the most effective for capturing drought in combination with remote-sensing data, while CWSI exhibited the highest correlation with SPEI over the three-month period, outperforming NDVI and EVI. The trend analysis indicates a significant precipitation deficit, alongside increasing trends in temperature and evapotranspiration over both the short and long term. Furthermore, all drought indices (SPI, SPEI, and RDI) demonstrate an intensification of drought conditions. Adaptation strategies are essential for managing water resources in the Upper Oum Er Rabia watershed under these evolving climate conditions. Continuous monitoring of climate variables and drought indices will be crucial for tracking changes and informing future water management strategies.

The Impact of Acute Ammonia Nitrogen Stress on Serum Biochemical Indicators and Spleen Gene Expression in Juvenile Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares).

The presence of ammonia nitrogen in water has a significant impact on the serum and spleen of fish, potentially leading to changes in substances such as proteins in the serum while also causing damage to the immune function of the spleen. To investigate the effects of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) stress on juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), this study established three NH3-N concentrations, 0, 5, and 10 mg/L, denoted as L0, L1, and L2, respectively. Serum and spleen samples were collected at 6, 24, and 36 h. The effects of different NH3-N concentrations and exposure times on the physiological status of juvenile fish were investigated by analyzing serum biochemical indices and splenic gene expression. The results indicate that in the L1 group, the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) levels, and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity showed a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing. In the L2 group, the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C, and C4 levels and ACP activity also displayed an initially rising and then declining trend, while TG, C3, and creatinine (CRE) levels and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity showed an upward trend. In the L1 group, glutathione peroxidase 1b (GPX1b), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6r), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene expression levels in the spleen exhibited a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. In the L2 group, IL-10, IL-6r, tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β), caspase 2 (casp2), and caspase 9 (casp9) gene expression levels in the spleen also showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. When NH3-N levels are below 5 mg/L, it is recommended to limit stress exposure to no more than 36 h for the juvenile fish. For concentrations ranging from 5 to 10 mg/L, stress should be strictly controlled to within 24 h. Exposure to high NH3-N levels may affect biochemical indicators such as serum lipid metabolism, immunity, and metabolism in juvenile fish, and may damage the expression of antioxidant, immune gene, and apoptosis factors in the spleen. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the effects of NH3-N on juvenile tuna, with the goal of establishing effective water quality monitoring and management strategies. This will ensure the quality of aquaculture water, reduce the harm caused by NH3-N to juvenile yellowfin tuna, and enhance aquaculture efficiency and product quality.

Potential impact of climate change on water productivity and water footprints of rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India.

Agriculture faces a significant problem as a result of the decline in per capita freshwater supply that has been observed over the past couple of decades. Better water management strategies are required in order to make agriculture water secure, environmentally sustainable, and economically attractive. The goal of this study was to develop water productivity scenarios for rice and wheat crops in India's Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) by analysing agricultural production from the perspective of water consumption. To pinpoint the areas that are hydrologically suitable for growing rice and wheat crops under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, water footprints and water productivity have been mapped. The study found that changes in temperature trends under future climate scenarios are probably going to increase crop water requirements, leading to greater water footprints for IGP regions. Water risk hotspots have been identified in the IGP for the rice- and wheat-growing states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. In order to achieve food security in a sustainable way, attention should be given to increase the water productivity of both crops.

The Contribution of Moisture Sources of Precipitation to Water Resources Recharge in Semi-Arid Regions

This study investigates the isotopic composition of precipitation in Iran and its moisture sources, offering insights crucial for addressing water recharge and management in semi-arid regions. This study analyzes 150 precipitation events collected from 11 stations across Iran over multiple years. The HYSPLIT model was used to trace air mass trajectories contributing to these events. The isotopic composition of precipitation from each moisture source was examined to identify their distinct characteristics. Furthermore, the contribution of each air mass to groundwater and surface water recharge was quantified using the Simmr mixing model in R programming language, combining stable isotope data from precipitation and surface/groundwater samples. Precipitation in northern Iran is associated with low d-excess values, indicating moisture from high-latitude sources, particularly the Caspian Sea, while higher d-excess values in the west and south point to moisture mainly from the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. Air mass trajectory analysis via the HYSPLIT model identified the dominant pathways of Continental Tropical (CT), Continental Polar (CP), and Mediterranean (MedT) air masses across Iran. Quantitative analysis using the Simmr mixing model revealed that the CT air mass contributes up to 33.6% to groundwater recharge in southern Iran’s karstic regions, while the CP air mass dominates in the north, with up to 46.8% contribution. The MedT air mass, although significant in the west, decreases in influence towards the east. Isotope data from groundwater and surface water sites showed more depleted values than local precipitation, likely due to larger catchment areas. These findings contribute to water management strategies by identifying the variations in moisture sources that influence groundwater and surface water recharge in Iran. Understanding these variations enables the development of targeted strategies for managing water resources in semi-arid regions facing increasing water scarcity. The methodologies applied in this study can be adapted to other regions, providing a valuable framework for sustainable water management in areas where identifying moisture sources is critical.

Development of Location Specific Decision Support System (DSS) for Adopting the Best Water Management Strategies to Maximize the Production for Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Command Area

Development of Location Specific Decision Support System (DSS) for Adopting the Best Water Management Strategies to Maximize the Production for Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Command Area

Enhancing Sustainability in Watershed Management: Spatiotemporal Assessment of Baseflow Alpha Factor in SWAT

The increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events poses significant challenges to sustainable water resource management, leading to severe natural disasters. To mitigate these challenges, understanding the hydrological characteristics of watersheds, especially baseflow, is critical for enhancing watershed resilience and supporting sustainable water quality and resource management. However, conventional watershed models often neglect the accurate simulation of baseflow recession. This study proposes a method for calculating and applying the alpha factor for each hydrologic response unit (HRU) in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), considering both temporal and spatial variability in baseflow. The study watershed has undergone significant development, increasing the need for effective water management strategies that promote long-term sustainability. The alpha factor was computed using BFlow2021, and its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing recession and baseflow estimates under different methods. The results indicate that incorporating monthly HRU-specific alpha factors significantly improves model predictions of recession characteristics, highlighting the need for a more spatially and temporally detailed approach in hydrological modeling. The proposed methodology can help clarify the connection between recession and baseflow and can be applied to ungauged stations, offering a valuable tool for sustainable watershed and water quality management.

Innovative and Cost‐Effective Approaches to the Measurement of Sediment Levels in Small Water Reservoirs

ABSTRACTSedimentation in small water reservoirs poses a critical challenge with significant environmental, economic, and social implications. To address this issue, this study will employ three measurement techniques—GNSS RTK Trimble R8s, Echolot HDS LIVE 7 with Active Imaging 3‐in‐1, and the Mivardi Carp Scout bait boat—to assess sediment levels in Žebětínský Pond in Brno, Czech Republic. The research reveals that each method offers distinct advantages and limitations. Through measurement and triangulated networks, the study creates a digital terrain model that facilitates the determination of reservoir volume and sediment levels. The comparison shows that the cost‐effective alternatives, Echolot HDS LIVE 7 and Mivardi Carp Scout, provide sufficiently accurate results. The evaluation shows that while the GNSS RTK Trimble R8s has the highest level of accuracy and is unique in its ability to measure both along the shoreline of the reservoir and the hard bottom, it comes with increased costs and logistical challenges. The Echolot HDS LIVE 7 and Mivardi Carp Scout offer efficient, cost‐effective solutions that are suitable for a quick estimate of sediment thickness. This research contributes to the use of reliable mathematical models and water management strategies, advocating for a pragmatic approach to the selection of methods based on the project characteristics. The study provides valuable insights into sediment measurement techniques, guiding future endeavors in reservoir management and environmental conservation. It is also used to easily indicate the loss of arable land in the catchment upstream of the reservoir.