A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management
In Spain, the largest inter-basin transfer is between the Tagus and Segura Basins. This transfer affects the regimes of the Mundo River, a tributary, and the Segura River. In this study, we examine two methodologies for the calculation of environmental flow regimes for the stretches affected by this...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-04-01
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Series: | Journal of Water and Climate Change |
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Online Access: | http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/4/1089 |
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author | Domingo Baeza Sanz Aida Gómez Matías |
author_facet | Domingo Baeza Sanz Aida Gómez Matías |
author_sort | Domingo Baeza Sanz |
collection | DOAJ |
description | In Spain, the largest inter-basin transfer is between the Tagus and Segura Basins. This transfer affects the regimes of the Mundo River, a tributary, and the Segura River. In this study, we examine two methodologies for the calculation of environmental flow regimes for the stretches affected by this alteration. When several methodologies are used to determine environmental flows, difficulty arises in deciding which values to propose to restore the river system hydrologically. This work tries to overcome this problem because we present a proposal to make them complementary. As a method for establishing the validity of minimum flow results, a simulation has been carried out on the river section, which has made it possible to evaluate the habitat created and the possibility of fauna movement. The results obtained by the habitat simulation method exceeded those obtained by hydrological methods in terms of habitat creation and hydraulic conditions for connectivity. These same tests have been used to assess the minimum official proposal made by the water administration.
HIGHLIGHTS
A procedure has been established that allows different results of ecological minimum flow values to be used in a complementary way to improve fish habitat.;
When results obtained by several methodologies are used in a complementary way, a more robust ecological flow regime proposal can be made.;
The method used can be applied together with other restoration measures in river stretches with strong morphological alterations.; |
first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:43:24Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-5ae68b107ce14277a74ef4c6640563ee |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2040-2244 2408-9354 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:09:21Z |
publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
publisher | IWA Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Water and Climate Change |
spelling | doaj.art-5ae68b107ce14277a74ef4c6640563ee2024-04-17T08:19:51ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water and Climate Change2040-22442408-93542023-04-011441089111110.2166/wcc.2023.246246A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for managementDomingo Baeza Sanz0Aida Gómez Matías1 Departamento de Ecología Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin, 2 Edificio de biología. Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain Departamento de Ecología Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin, 2 Edificio de biología. Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain In Spain, the largest inter-basin transfer is between the Tagus and Segura Basins. This transfer affects the regimes of the Mundo River, a tributary, and the Segura River. In this study, we examine two methodologies for the calculation of environmental flow regimes for the stretches affected by this alteration. When several methodologies are used to determine environmental flows, difficulty arises in deciding which values to propose to restore the river system hydrologically. This work tries to overcome this problem because we present a proposal to make them complementary. As a method for establishing the validity of minimum flow results, a simulation has been carried out on the river section, which has made it possible to evaluate the habitat created and the possibility of fauna movement. The results obtained by the habitat simulation method exceeded those obtained by hydrological methods in terms of habitat creation and hydraulic conditions for connectivity. These same tests have been used to assess the minimum official proposal made by the water administration. HIGHLIGHTS A procedure has been established that allows different results of ecological minimum flow values to be used in a complementary way to improve fish habitat.; When results obtained by several methodologies are used in a complementary way, a more robust ecological flow regime proposal can be made.; The method used can be applied together with other restoration measures in river stretches with strong morphological alterations.;http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/4/1089environmental flowhabitat simulationmediterranean riverswater management |
spellingShingle | Domingo Baeza Sanz Aida Gómez Matías A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management Journal of Water and Climate Change environmental flow habitat simulation mediterranean rivers water management |
title | A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management |
title_full | A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management |
title_fullStr | A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management |
title_full_unstemmed | A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management |
title_short | A comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a Mediterranean watershed: suggestions for management |
title_sort | comparative analysis of methods for establishing environmental flows in a mediterranean watershed suggestions for management |
topic | environmental flow habitat simulation mediterranean rivers water management |
url | http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/4/1089 |
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