Tectonics,geomorphology and water mill location in Scotland,and the potential impacts of mill dam failure

In this paper we assess the ways in which the topography of glaciated northern Britain has affected the siting and operations of water mills, and compare those factors and mill locations for mills in unglaciated southern Britain. We then explore the impacts of these findings on the potential downstream impacts of mill dam failure.We used a GIS to plot the locations of all 1712 localities in Britain's Ordnance Survey Gazetteer that include “mill”, “milton” (‘milltown’) and “miln” in their name. We then examined the geomorphology of mill locations in two study areas, one in northeast Scotland (glaciated; 421 localities) and one in southern England (unglaciated; 438 localities), assessing (i) mill location within the drainage net, and (ii) the steepness of an adjacent stream within a radius of 500 m of the mill locality. The large majority of mills are located within the first 10 km of the drainage net in both study areas, presumably on relatively stable bedrock channels. The data for most of the mills in both study areas indicate that catchment areas of less than 200 km² are sufficient to supply the water necessary for operation of a mill, but the higher rainfalls and runoff in Scotland (almost twice the values in the England study area) mean that mill dams in S England must have been higher and of higher capacity than those in NE Scotland. That finding is consistent with the results related to channel steepness, which show that mills in Scotland are associated with steeper channels than is the case in England. The generally greater channel steepness in Scotland (and the greater downstream extent of those steeper channels, as also confirmed by the data) reflect both the many glacially steepened bedrock channel reaches in Scotland and the steepening of Scotland's coastal bedrock channels as a result of glacio-isostatic rebound.The technical requirements of water mill operation favour situations where water can be delivered to the top of, or at least part-way up, the mill wheel. Scotland's steeper rivers and its higher rainfalls mean that Scotland's mills require smaller mill dams, if they are needed at all. It would therefore be expected that catastrophic or managed failure of mill dam walls in northern Britain would release lower volumes of trapped sediment to the downstream fluvial system. These lower volumes would in turn result in lower geomorphological impacts downstream of the dam, both in terms of changing channel patterns and burial of the bed. Such dam failure is a key current issue in geomorphology and one case study of a small failed mill dam in western Scotland confirms the minimal downstream impacts of that failure.     

The Hydrologic Importance of Small- and Medium-Sized Dams: Examples from Texas

Studies of the effects of dams have emphasized large and very large dams; less well understood are the impacts caused by smaller dams. Using Texas as an example area, this article highlights the role of small- and medium-sized dams in affecting the surface hydrology of river systems. Analysis of data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) in a geographic information system showed that small and medium dams comprise about 97 percent of the dams registered in Texas. A small-or medium-sized dam is found approximately every 100 km² of area and about 120 km of river length. Different from large dams, which affect water storage the most, the major impact of these smaller dams is fragmentation of river landscapes. Analysis of data for dams extracted from digital orthoquads and for water bodies from the National Hydrography Dataset indicates that the extent of river fragmentation is likely greater than that suggested by data from the NID, because the NID underrepresents the smaller dams. Such extent of river fragmentation can degrade stream habitats and pose barriers to the migration of aquatic species and transport of sediment. Because small and medium dams are largely built for fire protection and stock ponds, mitigating the impacts associated with these dams likely involves working with the private individuals who own them.     

Modeling River Connectivity Using the Barrier Assessment Tool and Available Data on Registered Dams in the Guadalupe–San Antonio River System,Texas

The rate of dam building has declined in the United States, but dam building is still considered an integral part of water supply management, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Understanding how dams affect river connectivity is a key component of river basin management. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation in the Guadalupe–San Antonio River System (GSARS) and how these patterns were related to dam size, age, and purpose. Using a shapefile of registered dams and the National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution (NHD-HR) as input data for the Barrier Assessment Tool (BAT), six successive connectivity models were created. The average length of functional river networks (FRNs) decreased over time but the number of FRNs over 100?km stayed relatively stable. Fragmentation in the GSARS was concentrated around urban centers, and the majority of fragmentation occurred gradually as dams separated small FRNs along tributaries and headwaters. This gradual decline in longitudinal connectivity was punctuated by sporadically large separations of river networks by particular dams based on their location and time of commissioning. The methodology presented here provides a way to analyze both the extent and the temporal evolution of fragmentation in a river system. Key Words: Barrier Assessment Tool (BAT), fragmentation, functional river networks, river connectivity.     

基于多源数据的皇甫川淤地坝信息提取

淤地坝是黄土高原水土流失防治的主要工程措施之一,明确淤地坝重要参数信息对流域水土保持研究具有重要意义。利用皇甫川流域不同数据来源资料包括地形图（1976年）、TM影像（1990年、2007年）、Google Earth影像（2010年）对其进行预处理获取矢量数据,利用遥感及GIS软件实现淤地坝数目、淤地坝位置、水面面积、控制面积等主要信息的提取并分析其动态变化,采用相关系数、NDAI和DAI进行提取误差评定。结果表明：皇甫川流域淤地坝数目随年代递增而增加,水面面积和控制面积也随之增大,流域西部淤地坝数目明显少于东部。TM数据上提取的淤地坝水面面积与通过Google Earth数据提取的结果相关系数为0.98,实测淤地坝控制面积与TM影像上提取结果相关系数为0.96,NDAI和DAI值平均误差绝对值均<5%。由此得出,基于多源数据淤地坝信息提取技术具有很好的可行性及较高的准确性,本文为淤地坝减水减沙效益及黄河粗泥沙来源研究提供必要的决策支持。     

Water resource management in the USA: a case study of large dams

The construction of large dams in the USA reveals a rapid growth in activity in the post-Second World War period, with the largest number of dams being inaugurated in the mid-1960s. Texas, with 823 dams, is the state with the largest number, followed in turn by California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Colorado. At the other extreme some states have fewer than a dozen dams. Although there are large variations in the number of dams between states nearly all of them record peak constructional activity between the late 1950s and early 1970s. Surprisingly, most dams have relatively small reservoirs with about 70 per cent of the total having capacities of less than 10⁶ m³. Over two-thirds of all dams have been constructed with a single aim in view, with flood control being the most important reason. Only 1.5 per cent of all dams are utilized for four or more purposes. The objectives behind dam construction reveal changes since the 19th century. In the early years of the 20th century irrigation, hydro-electric power generation and water supply were the most important reasons for dam construction, whereas in the post-1950 period flood control stands out as the dominant activity. Changing technology, the introduction of specific legislation and changing attitudes to the environment have been the major influences on dam-building activity over the period studied.     

Attitudes toward Water Conservation: The Influence of Site-Specific Factors and Beliefs in Climate Change

Areas affected by drought are increasing, and many lakes that provide potable water and recreation opportunities are located in drought-vulnerable areas. Understanding a population's attitudes toward conservation actions can improve communication initiatives, policy development, and education, which are all necessary for effective water resource management. However, little is known about stakeholders’ interactions with drought-influenced resources and the potential factors that form their water conservation attitudes. Using a mixed methods approach, we evaluated lake recreationists’ (n = 229) attitudes toward water conservation at a drought-impacted lake. We identified the relationships between two site-specific factors (place attachment and awareness of drought impacts), beliefs in climate change, concern for drought impacts, and water conservation attitudes. Results indicated concern for local drought impacts fully mediated the relationships between site-specific factors, beliefs in climate change, and attitudes toward water conservation behaviors. Implications for research, outreach, and water resource management are discussed.     

Monitoring of small and medium embankment dams on permafrost in a changing climate

Global climate warming which began in the second half of the twentieth century is continuing. It is associated with increased risks for ecological management, especially in permafrost areas comprising over 65% of Russia. Of special concern are dams constructed on permafrost. They are subject not only to climatic impacts, but also to additional hydrothermal loads from water reservoirs. This paper presents the concept of geocryological monitoring of dams and other water resource projects and substantiates its necessity in view of climatic change. It also presents methods, scope and implementation of geocryological monitoring at medium and small dams, considering the specific nature of Far Northern areas, as well as the complicated geotechnical, hydrogeological and permafrost conditions.     

黑河流域典型区土地利用格局变化及影响比较

在黑河流域选择两个典型区域进行土地利用变化的空间差异与影响的对比研究,利用20世纪60年代以来的三期遥感数据,通过定量表征指标体系,对比分析了两个区域不同空间土地利用格局变化和土地利用类型变化的分异特征,定量评价了土地利用变化对不同区域绿洲系统的稳定性和水资源空间分配的影响。结果表明：过去35年来两个对比区域不同的土地利用格局变化,形成了显著的绿洲沿河流的溯源迁移和以基于下游老绿洲的渐进性绿洲外围拓展两种不同模式,前者导致流域水资源过度集中消耗于流域上游和源区,中下游水资源可利用量急剧减少,在35年间下游荒漠化土地增加了85.1%,灌溉绿洲萎缩了25.5%;后者则不同,水资源利用量的空间配置在区域下游具有小幅度集中,区域绿洲系统整体的稳定性较高。从流域整体的水土相互关系出发,合理规划干旱内陆流域土地利用模式和空间土地资源配置,对于促进流域整体的可持续发展具有重要意义。     

Downstream effects of dams on livelihoods of river-dependent communities: the case of Ghana’s Kpong Dam

Construction of dams affects the livelihoods of the population living along the dammed river. There is a need for more studies to guide dam development policies and management to safeguard the livelihoods of local river users. This paper examines the effects of dams on the socio-economic livelihoods of downstream communities by drawing on the Kpong Dam in Ghana constructed from 1979 to 1982 with the goal of supplying energy and for irrigation purposes. Primary data were collected in resettled and non-resettled downstream communities using a mixed-research approach. This case study highlights how the Kpong Dam has affected the downstream river-dependent population whose livelihoods, particularly farming and fishing revolved around the seasonal flow regimes of the Volta River. Our study challenges the general perception that dams increase agricultural production by illustrating that developing ancillary facilities such as irrigation schemes as part of dam projects can enhance all-year-round agricultural production to improve food and income security of downstream households only when constraints such as lack of farm inputs are addressed. To safeguard livelihoods and limit the social impacts of dams, compensation schemes and alternative livelihood activities should be designed to include resettled and non-resettled communities along the downstream areas affected by dam projects.     

陕西榆林地区无定河流域淤地坝遥感解译

淤地坝是黄土高原水土流失防治的主要措施之一,明确淤地坝的分布、规模等重要参数信息对流域水土保持研究具有重要意义。利用遥感技术（RS）和地理信息系统（GIS）技术,结合陕北地区无定河流域高分二号卫星影像、野外踏勘及资料收集到的研究区淤地坝情况,对其进行预处理获取矢量数据,通过对比分析,得到淤地坝解译标志。针对榆林地区无定河流域淤地坝进行遥感解译,利用遥感及GIS软件实现淤地坝数目、淤地坝位置、水面面积、控制面积等主要信息的提取,获取淤地坝在定边、靖边、米脂、绥德、横山、榆阳、子洲和清涧8个县（区）分布状况。结果显示：研究区共解译出疑似淤地坝图斑1257个,其中榆阳区60个,横山区85个,定边县65个,靖边县19个,米脂县470个,子州县99个,绥德县316个,清涧县143个。由此发现,淤地坝主要分布于无定河下游区域的绥德、米脂、子洲和清涧4县的沟道内,且沟道内多存在耕地或水域。将淤地坝分布情况与地形、年均降雨量、农业种植面积和地质灾害等进行比较分析,显示其分布状况与这些因素相关联,表现为沟壑纵横的区域淤地坝较多,农业种植面积较少的区域淤地坝较多,年均降雨量和耕种面积比值较大区域淤地坝较多。由此,总结其分布规律,为未来淤地坝的维护和修建提供重要支持。     

科尔沁沙地水域景观格局的时空动态——以奈曼旗为例

对位于科尔沁沙地腹地的奈曼旗近30 a来土地利用/覆被信息中水域类型的景观格局指数进行了时空组合分析。结果表明,大尺度研究区（8 135.15 km2）1975-1985年水体与湿地斑块的类型面积和数量增加,形状趋于复杂;1985-2005年斑块类型面积和数量大幅减少,形状趋于简单;中尺度研究区（892.74 km2）水体与湿地斑块的类型面积在波动中减小,湿地斑块数量减少和形状简单化的转折期相对较短且滞后于水体。小尺度研究区（110.42 km2）集中了人畜以及上游活动的干扰,水体与湿地斑块仅在个别时期出现,难以连续存在。在各尺度研究区内,河漫滩斑块类型面积变化趋势各异,数量和形状复杂程度都相对稳定;且随着研究区增大形状更加不规则。水域类型的景观格局虽然在不同时空上的动态过程存在差异性,但其发展方向具有相同趋势,发展过程受到气候波动和人类活动干扰的共同影响。     

Hydroelectric Infrastructure and Potential Groundwater Contamination in the Brazilian Amazon: Altamira and the Belo Monte Dam

Heavy investments in hydroelectric development are occurring throughout the Amazon Basin, which holds 42.2 percent of Brazil’s hydroelectric potential. The Belo Monte dam is the most recent and largest project in this region. The prevalence of septic systems in the Amazon, coupled with the widespread use of water wells and rising water table from filling the reservoir, create sanitation and health concerns for upstream communities. Using spatial analytical data and terrain analyses, we identify high-risk locations within the most densely populated neighborhoods in Altamira, Belo Monte’s host city. The purpose of this research is to develop a heuristic for identifying areas susceptible to groundwater and well contamination in relation to existing and proposed hydroelectric projects. Altamira’s city center persists as a high-risk location for contamination of wells because of its population density and relatively low elevation compared to other parts of the city. The methods, tools, and analyses presented in this article provide a framework that can be used to identify vulnerability to groundwater and drinking well contamination. The results presented here can guide implementation of public health and sanitation efforts in areas affected by large hydroelectric projects to avoid future water quality crises. Key Words: Belo Monte, groundwater contamination, hydroelectric infrastructure, risk assessment, spatial and terrain analyses.     

Expansive fire in Mojave Desert shrubland reduces abundance and species diversity of small mammals

Changes in plant community structure and composition of the Mojave Desert in response to greater fire intensity and extent are likely to have strong bottom-up effects on the biological community. The objective of this study was to determine how expansive fire in Mojave Desert impacts small mammal communities across seasons. We sampled small mammals in paired burned (4–5 years post-fire) and unburned areas of Beaver Dam Wash in southwestern Utah. Fire reduced total abundance of small mammals, and species richness and species diversity of the small mammal community. Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) responded positively to fire (15% greater in burned areas). Long-tailed pocket mouse (Chaetodipus formosus) and canyon mouse (Peromyscus crinitus) were 91% and 98% less abundant in burned versus unburned areas. The positive response of Merriam’s kangaroo rat to fire is most likely correlated with their preference for open foraging microhabitat while other species captured prefer greater and more diverse cover. Because the small mammal community has been dramatically affected by fire, it is likely that top-down control of vegetation structure will be dominated by Merriam’s kangaroo rat in burned areas, which may promote more open habitat by limiting the growth of annual and perennial grasses.     

水库下游水沙变化与河床演变研究综述

水库建设以满足人类日益增长的水资源及其利用的要求仍是当今世界,特别是发展中国家在水利建设中的一项重要任务。建坝改变了上下游水流边界条件,导致水沙输移变化,同时也触发了河床形态发生相应的调整。自从20 世纪30 年代全球大规模修坝后,关于此课题的研究就层出不穷。本文就此研究主题对国内外研究成果进行梳理与总结,简要综述水库下游水流挟沙变异以及河床形态演变的研究历史与现状,旨在对该领域的研究进展进行全面的归纳与总结。     

美国西部滑坡坝的合作研究

沟谷的滑坡成坝已成为美国西部山地中一个值得注意的问题。1985年作者们考察了美国西部六州九个滑坡坝的特点。这是执行1979年中美科学技术合作协议(特别是1980年地学合作补充议定书)的部分内容。中美两国科学家和工程专家考察九个滑坡坝后,取得了一些研究成果,即论述了滑坡坝(尤其是近代滑坡坝)的成因与稳定性,并列举了灾变性溃坝防止措施的若干成功经验。     

Hydrological impacts of flow regulation associated with the Upper Nepean water supply scheme,NSW

The upper Nepean River has been progressively regulated for water supply to Sydney and Wollongong since 1886 by the Upper Nepean Water Supply Scheme which consists of four large dams, two small dams and two diversion weirs. Secular rainfall changes produced periods of high rainfall and large floods (flood‐dominated regimes) between 1857 and 1900 and 1947 and the present, and an intervening period (1901–46) of low rainfall and small floods (drought‐dominated regime). Upstream impoundment and flow regulation significantly reduced flood magnitudes for most return periods during both types of flood regimes. The probability distribution of mean daily flows was also changed significantly by flow regulation such that during the drought‐dominated regime, the high and low frequency flows were reduced substantially but the moderate frequency flows were increased due to dam releases; the change from a regulated drought‐dominated regime to a regulated flood‐ dominated regime resulted in a substantial increase in discharge for most durations; and increased water diversions to Wollongong during the current flood‐dominated regime produced a marked downward shift in the whole flow duration curve. Nepean Dam reduced downstream suspended sediment yields by two orders of magnitude because it traps in excess of 99 per cent of the inflowing suspended sediment load. Streamflow releases are urgently required from the two diversion weirs to improve downstream water quality and to ensure the viability of the resident ‘potentially threatened’ eastern Macquarie perch (Macquaria nov. sp.).     

A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity: lessons for the Snowy Mountains pumped hydro expansion project

ABSTRACT

The Australian government’s proposal to expand the Snowy Hydro Scheme to include a second pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) system, and support for feasibility studies for PHES in Tasmania, offer an opportunity to incorporate more intermittent renewable energy generation into the National Energy Market. However, the infrastructure construction required for PHES expansion may have negative effects for biodiversity in subalpine and alpine areas. To identify the potential effects of PHES on biodiversity in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP), this systematic literature review assesses: (i) the key environmental disturbances likely to arise from PHES construction; and (ii) the specific impacts of these construction processes on biodiversity in subalpine and alpine environments. We find that the effects of PHES construction-related disturbances are likely to be negative for subalpine and alpine biodiversity, with impacts including the proliferation of exotic flora, habitat loss resulting from vegetation clearing, altered landscape hydrology and reduced water quality. Management recommendations to limit these impacts are provided and further research is recommended to assess: (i) the effects of PHES on fish populations in alpine reservoirs; (ii) the utility of spoil as artificial habitat for endemic fauna; and (iii) the chemical and physical impacts of spoil dumping in alpine reservoirs.     

Sensitivity of disease cluster detection to spatial scales: an analysis with the spatial scan statistic method

ABSTRACT

The spatial scan statistic method has been widely used for detecting disease clusters. Its results may be affected by scales, including the aggregation level of the input data and the population threshold used in the detection. Previous studies offered inconsistent findings, and few had considered both types of scales at the same time. Using 24 simulated datasets and two real disease datasets, we investigated the method’s sensitivity to the two types of scales. We aggregated the individual-level data into areal units of three levels, including county, town, and a 900 m grid. We detected clusters with three population thresholds, including 10%, 25%, and 50%. We used two measurements, distance between cluster centres and the Jaccard index, to quantify the consistency of clusters detected with different scale settings. We find: (1) the method is not greatly sensitive to the data aggregation level when the cluster is strong and in a place with high population density; (2) the method’s sensitivity to the population threshold is determined by the actual size of the true cluster; and (3) a regular grid with fine resolution is advantageous over the subjectively defined areal units. The process and findings may have broader meanings to similar spatial analyses.     

Constructing the Klamath: Nature,Culture, and the Management of a Western River

Despite decades of scientific research, stakeholder negotiations, and policy proposals, management of the Klamath River in southern Oregon and northern California remains hotly contested. This research examines the sociocultural dimensions of proposed removal of four Klamath River dams. Using a social constructivist approach to analyze the discourse of public comments regarding dam removal, I find commenters rely on diverse ideas of nature and divergent problem framings, contest the role of science, and draw on embedded and meaningful sociocultural narratives to legitimize their management preferences. These discourses shape the terrain upon which management actions are perceived, valued, and contested, and make management actions meaningful beyond their immediate spatial and temporal context. Dam removal on the Klamath River is far more than an ecological problem amenable to a scientific or technical approach; instead, it is a complex project shot through with the sociocultural identities, visions, and narratives of all involved.