Water resources and the sustainable development of humankind: International cooperation in the rational use of freshwater-lake resources: Conclusions from materials of foreign studies

The current and future state of the Earth’s water resources under present-day trends in water use is discussed. The activity of international institutions in the organization of management of lake ecosystems and drainage basins was analyzed from the viewpoint of sustainable development. The work of International Committee on Lake Environment, International Joint Commission (USA and Canada), International Commission on Lake Constance Protection, Autonomous Bilateral Management of Lake Titicaca, Commission on Chad Lake Basin, and Fishery Organization of Lake Victoria. Recommendations are proposed for the organization of international management of water bodies and their drainage basins.     

Stream restoration reduces elevated phosphorus levels in an urban watershed

Lake Erie is located in North America with its southern shoreline bordering Ohio, as well as parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. A one-year study investigated nutrient pollution in a Central Basin Lake Erie headwater tributary watershed near Cleveland Ohio. Results suggest that the 2019 annual phosphorus load entering Lake Erie from the Euclid Creek watershed was approximately 22,600 pounds, over four times the watershed’s target of 5545 pounds. Multiple upstream sites were the major nonpoint sources of nutrient pollution. Four sampling sites averaged phosphorus levels 12–15 times the watershed target of 0.05 mg/L. Leaking sanitary sewers in residential areas were believed to contribute more pollution than the three golf courses and the regional airport located within the watershed. The presence of the Cleveland Metroparks along the riparian corridor in the Main Branch significantly reduced (p < 0.05) nutrients during dry weather. In particular, stream restoration within the Acacia Reservation lowered phosphorus levels by an average 0.31 mg/L. Spring storms contributed the most to the annual phosphorus load (∼47 %). To mitigate nutrient pollution in urban watersheds, best management practices (BMPs) would require a two-fold strategy. During dry weather, BMPs should incorporate stream restoration and forested riparian buffers where feasible. Green infrastructure should be designed to mitigate the impact of wet-weather storm-induced flows.     

Farmers’ awareness and perception of Lake Ziway (Ethiopia) and its watershed management

The article examines how heads of farmers’ households perceive the socioeconomic benefits of Lake Ziway (Ethiopia), the causes of its current degradation, and the state of land and water use management in its watershed. The investigation was based on in-depth empirical field work including a survey with 635 heads of smallholder farmers’ households via interview using semi-structured questionnaires. Further, water abstraction was estimated from three districts that border with the lake. Respondents believe that Lake Ziway provides a number of individual and collective benefits for local communities, private companies and public institution. They stated, however, that the lake is under pressure from the floriculture industry and other investment projects, high population growth and subsequent expansion of settlements and irrigation farms, high applications of agrochemicals, soil erosion, uncontrolled water abstraction, and deforestation in the watershed. The respondents further believe that these activities are degrading the lake water quality, shrinking its water volume and decreasing its fish population. After examining government’s efforts to address these activities, the majority of respondents believe that the government role in the whole watershed is weak. This study contributes to better understand the local socio-ecological coherences and the problems Lake Ziway and its watershed are facing. It also provides information regarding long-term sustainable land and water use planning strategies for the lake and management of its watershed, which could also be applied to other lakes in Ethiopia, and beyond.     

Linking snowmelt‐derived fluxes and groundwater flow in a high elevation meadow system,Sierra Nevada Mountains,California

Quantifying snowmelt‐derived fluxes at the watershed scale within hillslope environments is critical for investigating local meadow scale groundwater dynamics in high elevation riparian ecosystems. In this article, we investigate the impact of snowmelt‐derived groundwater flux from the surrounding hillslopes on water table dynamics in Tuolumne Meadows, which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA. Results show water levels within the meadow are controlled by a combination of fluxes at the hillslope boundaries, snowmelt within the meadow and changes in the stream stage. Observed water level fluctuations at the boundaries of the meadow show the hydrologic connection and subsequent disconnection between the hillslope and meadow aquifers. Timing of groundwater flux entering the meadow as a result of spring snowmelt can vary over 20 days based on the location, aspect, and local geology of the contributing area within the larger watershed. Identifying this temporal and spatial variability in flux entering the meadow is critical for simulating changes in water levels within the meadow. Model results can vary significantly based on the temporal and spatial scales at which watershed processes are linked to local processes within the meadow causing errors when boundary fluxes are lumped in time or space. Without a clear understanding of the surrounding hillslope hydrology, it is difficult to simulate groundwater dynamics within high elevation riparian ecosystems with the accuracy necessary for understanding ecosystem response. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detecting soil disturbance/restoration effects on stream sediment loading in the Lake Tahoe Basin,USA—modelling predictions

Establishment and ‘crediting’ for total maximum daily loads (TMDL) of sediment require development of stream monitoring programs capable of detecting changes in land use and erosion ‘connectivity’ conditions across the watershed. As a ‘proof of concept’ directed at developing such an effective stream monitoring program considering only the effects of soil disturbances or restoration in the Lake Tahoe Basin, variability in daily stream sediment load predictions from a local‐scale, field data–based distributed runoff and erosion model developed previously is analysed for the west‐shore watersheds of Homewood (HMR) and Madden Creeks. The areal extent effects of forest fuel reductions (slight soil disturbances in Madden) and soil restoration efforts (e.g. dirt road removal and ski‐run rehabilitation in HMR) on watershed daily sediment loads for the 1994–2005 period are considered. Based on model predictions, forest fuel management in the Madden Creek watershed must occur across more than 30% of the basin area to result in a detectable increase in daily sediment loads at the >95% confidence level. Similarly, a daily load reduction that could be assessed with >95% confidence within the HMR basin required substantial dirt road removal (50% by roaded area) and restoration of 20% of the ski‐run area (combined for ~5% of the basin area) for the 11‐year record but was also possible within 2–3 years following restoration. These modelling results suggest that despite considerable flow–load variability, it may be possible to detect cumulative changing land‐use conditions within several years of project completion such that quantitative TMDL ‘crediting’ may be developed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EFFECTS OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ON THE REDUCTION OF SEDIMENT AND RUNOFF IN THE JIALING RIVER,CHINA

The Three Gorges Project is one of the largest hydro-projects in the world and has drawn many debates inside China and abroad. The major concern is that sediment load from the river basin may eventually fail the functions of the project for flood control and power generation. To reduce sedimentation in the reservoir, watershed management has been adopted. However, there is limited information regarding the effectiveness of various control measures such as terracing and afforestation on a watershed scale. The Jialing River, a main tributary of the Yangtze River, contributes approximately 25% of the total sediment load in the main river but only represents 8% of the whole basin area. There have been various land use patterns and extensive human activities for thousands of years in the Jialing River watershed. Based on analysis of the major factors affecting erosion in the Jialing River watershed, the main watershed management strategies (afforestation, farming and engineering practice) are illustrated, and their effects on the reduction of sediment and runoff are studied in detail. The sediment budget of the watershed shows that 1/3 of the sediment yield is trapped by the erosion control measures (afforestation and farming) on the slope, 1/3 is trapped by the reservoirs, ponds and dams within the watershed, and only about 1/3 is transported into the Yangtze River, which will affect the Three Gorges Project.     

Diary of forthcoming events

Abstract

Freshwater and sediment are crucial to the development and health of aquatic and wetland ecosystems in deltaic coastal regions. This study examines the long-term freshwater inflow (1940–2002) and total suspended solid loading (1978–2001), and their relationships with climate variables in three major river watersheds to Lake Pontchartrain, the largest inland estuary in the USA. The results show an average total annual freshwater inflow of 5.04 km³ and an average total annual sediment loading of 210 360 t, with the highest contributions from the Amite River watershed. Over 69% of annual inflow occurred within the six months from December to May. About 66–71% of the annual total suspended solid loading occurred within the four months from January to April. An increasing trend of annual water inflow and sediment discharge was found in the Amite River watershed over the past 60 years, coinciding with the fastest population growth in this upper Lake Pontchartrain basin.     

Assessing a decade of phosphorus management in the Lake Mendota, Wisconsin watershed and scenarios for enhanced phosphorus management

A phosphorus (P) budget was estimated for the watershed of Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, to assess the effects of nutrient management on P accumulation in the watershed soils. We estimated how nutrient management programs and legislation have affected the budget by comparing the budget for 2007 to a budget calculated for 1995, prior to implementation of the programs. Since 1995, inputs decreased from 1,310,000 to 853,000 kg P/yr (35% reduction) and accumulation decreased from 575,000 to 279,000 kg P/yr (51% reduction). Changes in P input and accumulation were attributed primarily to enhanced agricultural nutrient management, reduction in dairy cattle feed supplements and an urban P fertilizer ban. Four scenarios were investigated to determine potential impacts of additional nutrient management tactics on the watershed P budget and P loading to Lake Mendota. Elimination of chemical P fertilizer input has the greatest potential to reduce watershed P accumulation and establishment of riparian buffers has the greatest potential to prevent P loading to Lake Mendota.     

Theoretical estimates for the influence of Lake Victoria on flows in the upper White Nile

Abstract

A theoretical model is described for estimating the impacts of changes in Lake Victoria levels on river flows, lake levels and swamp areas in the upper White Nile basin. The basis of the model is to represent the main river channel by a series of interconnected lakes and swamps, whose water balances are described by differential equations relating outflows to levels, areas and the net basin supply at each point. Closed form solutions are obtained for two situations: (a) a long-term change in the mean level of Lake Victoria, and (b) a return to equilibrium levels following an initial disturbance in Lake Victoria levels. A simple model for the net basin supply to Lake Victoria is also used to relate these changes in levels to changes in climate and runoff in the basin. The results illustrate the extreme sensitivity of White Nile flows to changes in Lake Victoria levels and outflows, and in particular to variations in the direct rainfall on the lake surface. Estimates are also presented for the various time scales and time delays which affect the White Nile system.     

云南九大高原湖泊流域人类活动强度对水质的多尺度影响

人类活动强度的空间异质性是理解区域人地关系和生态环境效应的基础。基于云南九大高原湖泊流域2020年土地利用数据,构建不同景观类型的人类影响强度系数,运用GIS空间分析量化流域人类活动强度与空间分异,探讨人类活动强度对水质的影响。结果表明:人类活动强度总体特征由高到低依次是杞麓湖(4.83)、星云湖(4.71)、滇池(4.19)、阳宗海(4.11)、抚仙湖(4.03)、异龙湖(4.01)、程海(3.93)、洱海(3.88)和泸沽湖(2.96)。人类活动强度指数(HAI)在流域尺度、坝区尺度、湖岸尺度的空间分异特征明显,每个流域都受到高强度人类活动影响,最大值出现在坝区,滇池、杞麓湖岸线存在完全开发的区域。人类活动强度随海拔和坡度增高而下降,高强度区集中在地势低平的湖泊周围。湖泊营养状态指数与流域尺度和坝区尺度高强度区呈显著正相关,这些区域应作为景观优化和管理的重点;与岸线尺度低强度区呈显著负相关,有必要减少湖滨带人类活动。综合考虑流域地形地貌-人类活动强度-水质的级联效应,应从不同空间尺度对各景观要素与过程管控。鉴于人类活动强度对水质的影响,可把湖泊管理分为预防型、保护型、治理型。     

Informing policy to protect coastal coral reefs: Insight from a global review of reducing agricultural pollution to coastal ecosystems

The continuing degradation of coral reefs has serious consequences for the provision of ecosystem goods and services to local and regional communities. While climate change is considered the most serious risk to coral reefs, agricultural pollution threatens approximately 25% of the total global reef area with further increases in sediment and nutrient fluxes projected over the next 50 years. Here, we aim to inform coral reef management using insights learned from management examples that were successful in reducing agricultural pollution to coastal ecosystems. We identify multiple examples reporting reduced fluxes of sediment and nutrients at end-of-river, and associated declines in nutrient concentrations and algal biomass in receiving coastal waters. Based on the insights obtained, we recommend that future protection of coral reef ecosystems demands policy focused on desired ecosystem outcomes, targeted regulatory approaches, up-scaling of watershed management, and long-term maintenance of scientifically robust monitoring programs linked with adaptive management.     

Development of a SWAT extension module to simulate riparian wetland hydrologic processes at a watershed scale

Using a mass balance algorithm, this study develops an extension module that can be embedded in the commonly used Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). This module makes it possible to assess effects of riparian wetlands on runoff and sediment yields at a watershed scale, which is very important for aquatic ecosystem management but rarely documented in the literature. In addition to delineating boundaries of a watershed and its subwatersheds, the module groups riparian wetlands within a subwatershed into an equivalent wetland for modelling purposes. Further, the module has functions to compute upland drainage area and other parameters (e.g. maximum volume) for the equivalent wetland based on digital elevation model, stream network, land use, soil and wetland distribution GIS datasets. SWAT is used to estimate and route runoff and sediment generated from upland drainage area. The lateral exchange processes between riparian wetlands and their hydraulically connected streams are simulated by the extension module. The developed module is empirically applied to the 53 km² Upper Canagagigue Creek watershed located in Southern Ontario of Canada. The simulation results indicate that the module can make SWAT more reasonably predict flow and sediment loads at the outlet of the watershed and better represent the hydrologic processes within it. The simulation is sensitive to errors of wetland parameters and channel geometry. The approach of embedding the module into SWAT enables simulation of hydrologic processes in riparian wetlands, evaluation of wetland effects on regulating stream flow and sediment loading and assessment of various wetland restoration scenarios. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influences of agricultural landuse and seasonal changes in abiotic conditions on invertebrate colonisation of riparian leaf detritus in intermittent streams

The structure and function of agricultural stream reaches with sparse riparian and floodplain vegetation differ from those of forested reaches, but may be ‘reset’ as these streams flow through reaches with forested riparian zones. We investigated whether invertebrate colonisation of River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) leaf packs in lowland intermittent streams was influenced by the adjacent reach-scale landuse (cleared farmland or forested reserve) within an agricultural catchment in Victoria, Australia. Further, we examined the influence of seasonal changes in hydrology and associated changes in abiotic conditions on the colonisation of leaves by repeating experiments over two summers and one spring. Across these experiments, there were no consistent differences in the structure of communities that colonised leaves in farmland and reserve reaches. In both seasons, most leaf colonists were collectors and few were shredders in both farmland and reserve reaches. Relative abundances of gastropod grazers were much higher in summer than in spring. The structure of invertebrate communities colonising leaves in the different reaches converged over time when streams flowed in spring, but diverged over time as the streams dried and abiotic conditions within disconnected pools became increasingly harsh in summer. Thus, patterns of leaf pack colonisation were influenced by the regional climate causing large seasonal changes in hydrology, but not by reach-scale landuse. The large-scale disturbances of agricultural landuse across the catchment and a supra-seasonal drought probably contributed to low diversities of invertebrate communities in the streams.     

WATERSHED CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTEGRATED STREAM MODELING

lINTRoDUCTIONAbroadobjectiveofcooperativeresearchattheNorthwestWatershedResearchCenterandEco-HydraulicsResearchGroupistodevelopdetailedunderstandingofthetemporalandspatialvariabilityofstreamflow,sedimentandwaterquaIityconstituentsinacontinuumfromheadwatersthroughestuaries.Thispaperpresentsselectedaspectsofourongoingresearch,focusedonstreamsystemsinsemi-arid,uplandrangelandwatersheds.Publicawarenessoftheroleofriversinregionalecologicalsystems,andconcernforpreserving,enhancingandrestorin…     

Impacts of environmental stressors on the water resources of intensively managed hydrologic systems

Watersheds are complex systems due to their surface and subsurface spatially connected water fluxes and biochemical processes that shape Earth's critical zone. In intensively managed landscapes, the implementation of watershed management practices (WMPs) regulate their short‐term responses, whereas climate variability controls the long‐term processes. Understanding their responses to anthropogenic and natural stressors requires a holistic approach that takes into account their multiscale spatio‐temporal linkages. The objective of this study was to simulate the impacts of spatially and temporally varying WMPs and projected climate changes on the surface and groundwater resources in the Upper Sangamon River Basin (USRB), a watershed in central Illinois greatly impacted by agricultural and industrial operations. The physically based hydrologic model MIKE‐SHE was used to simulate the hydrologic responses of the basin to different WMPs and climatic conditions. The simulation of a WMP was varied spatially across the basin to determine the spectrum of responses and critical conditions. In general, the wetlands and forested riparian buffer scenarios were found to cause a reduction in the average streamflow, whereas crop rotation had varied responses depending on the location of implementation and the climate condition assumed. Reductions of up to 30% in the average streamflow were found for the forested riparian buffer under the ESM 2M climate projections, whereas an increase of up to 13% with the crop rotation schemes under CM3 climate was predicted. The model results showed that the installation of tile drains across the USRB increased the water table depth (from ground level) by up to 56%, making crop production possible. Groundwater level in USRB appeared to be more sensitive to future climatic conditions than to WMP implementation. The impacts of WMPs are determined to depend on the climate conditions under which they are applied. Investigating individual and combined stressors' effects over the critical zone at a watershed scale can lead to a more comprehensive analysis of the risk and trade‐offs in every managerial decision that will enable an efficient use of resources.     

Assessing impacts of riparian buffer zones on sediment and nutrient loadings into streams at watershed scale using an integrated REMM‐SWAT model

Riparian buffer zones in agriculture dominated watersheds play important roles in reducing nonpoint source pollution into aquatic ecosystems and are widely used as a Best Management Practice. Assessment of the effectiveness of riparian buffer zones by modeling method is widely used for watershed management as field measurement‐based assessment is difficult and expensive. The integration of Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been developed to simulate the effect of nonpoint source pollution reduction by riparian buffer zones at subbasin scale. However, there are problems in using the integrated model at subbasin scale, as the size of subbasin partition could affect the pollutant reduction rate by riparian buffers. In this study, we partitioned a large watershed with size of 1331 ha into sub‐watersheds with sizes of 666, 333, 166, 83, 51, and 29 ha, and then compared the different simulation results. We found that the modeling could yield more convergent results when the sub‐watersheds were partitioned into suitable size. In the studied area, the suitable sub‐watershed size was less than about 166 ha for runoff and nitrogen and 83 ha for sediment and phosphorus. Among the eight sub‐watersheds (partitioned based on the size of 166 ha), results showed that the effects of riparian buffers on runoff and nutrient loading varied drastically. The reduction rate varied from 0.26% to 30.13% for runoff, 29.4% to 74.07% for sediment, 9.61% to 57.85% for nitrogen, and 18.61% to 68.12% for phosphorus, respectively.     

流域生态学与太湖流域防洪、治污及可持续发展

在评述流域生态学中的水文、湖沼、生态系统、景观、生态经济和生态管理等主要研究内容和复合生态系统、河流连续统、生态交错带、等级系统、格局－尺度－过程、信息系统等概念理论以及流域自然过程、生物功能、系统结构、生态环境、流域生态管理等流域生态学热点问题的基础上,总结分析了太湖流域防洪、治污及可持续发展与流域生态学的关系,指出流域生态学在太湖流域的流域开发、环境治理、区域可持续发展等实践方面起着越来越重要的指导作用,有必要开发深入研究。     

Banking carbon: a review of organic carbon storage and physical factors influencing retention in floodplains and riparian ecosystems

Rivers are dynamic components of the terrestrial carbon cycle and provide important functions in ecosystem processes. Although rivers act as conveyers of carbon to the oceans, rivers also retain carbon within riparian ecosystems along floodplains, with potential for long‐term (> 10² years) storage. Research in ecosystem processing emphasizes the importance of organic carbon (OC) in river systems, and estimates of OC fluxes in terrestrial freshwater systems indicate that a significant portion of terrestrial carbon is stored within river networks. Studies have examined soil OC on floodplains, but research that examines the potential mechanistic controls on OC storage in riparian ecosystems and floodplains is more limited. We emphasize three primary OC reservoirs within fluvial systems: (1) standing riparian biomass; (2) dead biomass as large wood (LW) in the stream and on the floodplain; (3) OC on and beneath the floodplain surface, including litter, humus, and soil organic carbon (SOC). This review focuses on studies that have framed research questions and results in the context of OC retention, accumulation and storage within the three primary pools along riparian ecosystems. In this paper, we (i) discuss the various reservoirs for OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (ii) discuss physical conditions that facilitate carbon retention and storage in riparian ecosystems, (iii) provide a synthesis of published OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (iv) present a conceptual model of the conditions that favor OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (v) briefly discuss human impacts on OC storage in riparian ecosystems, and (vi) highlight current knowledge gaps. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of infiltration‐based stormwater management to restore hydrological processes in urban headwater streams

Urbanization threatens headwater stream ecosystems globally. Watershed restoration practices, such as infiltration‐based stormwater management, are implemented to mitigate the detrimental effects of urbanization on aquatic ecosystems. However, their effectiveness for restoring hydrologic processes and watershed storage remains poorly understood. Our study used a comparative hydrology approach to quantify the effects of urban watershed restoration on watershed hydrologic function in headwater streams within the Coastal Plain of Maryland, USA. We selected 11 headwater streams that spanned an urbanization–restoration gradient (4 forested, 4 urban‐degraded, and 3 urban‐degraded) to evaluate changes in watershed hydrologic function from both urbanization and watershed restoration. Discrete discharge and continuous, high‐frequency rainfall‐stage monitoring were conducted in each watershed. These datasets were used to develop 6 hydrologic metrics describing changes in watershed storage, flowpath connectivity, or the resultant stream flow regime. The hydrological effects of urbanization were clearly observed in all metrics, but only 1 of the 3 restored watersheds exhibited partially restored hydrologic function. At this site, a larger minimum runoff threshold was observed relative to the urban‐degraded watersheds, suggesting enhanced infiltration of stormwater runoff within the restoration structure. However, baseflow in the stream draining this watershed remained low compared to the forested reference streams, suggesting that enhanced infiltration of stormwater runoff did not recharge subsurface storage zones contributing to stream baseflow. The highly variable responses among the 3 restored watersheds were likely due to the spatial heterogeneity of urban development, including the level of impervious cover and extent of the storm sewer network. This study yielded important knowledge on how restoration strategies, such as infiltration‐based stormwater management, modulated—or failed to modulate—hydrological processes affected by urbanization, which will help improve the design of future urban watershed management strategies. More broadly, we highlighted a multimetric approach that can be used to monitor the restoration of headwater stream ecosystems in disturbed landscapes.