Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health
Numerous anthropogenic activities like the construction of large dams, storages, and barrages changed the watershed characteristics impacting ecosystem health. In this study, the hydrological alterations (HAs) that have occurred in the Bhima River due to the construction of the Ujjani dam were analy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Water Science and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/3/763 |
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| author | Gunjan J. Mishra Akula Uday Kumar Mahesh R. Tapas Praveen Oggu K. V. Jayakumar |
| author_facet | Gunjan J. Mishra Akula Uday Kumar Mahesh R. Tapas Praveen Oggu K. V. Jayakumar |
| author_sort | Gunjan J. Mishra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous anthropogenic activities like the construction of large dams, storages, and barrages changed the watershed characteristics impacting ecosystem health. In this study, the hydrological alterations (HAs) that have occurred in the Bhima River due to the construction of the Ujjani dam were analyzed. The hydraulic analysis is also performed to determine the hydraulic parameter and recommend the lowest flow release from the dam for improving ecosystem health. Fifty-eight years of data starting from the year 1960 to 2018 were gathered at Yadgir station, which is located downstream of the Ujjani dam. The data were divided into pre- and post-construction river flow discharge. To check for the change in the river flow regime for the post-dam construction period, HA was calculated using Flow Health Software (FHS). The results demonstrate that the dam impoundment reduces high flows primarily by storing flood flow for water supply, irrigation, etc. The velocity and depth provided by the environmental design flow for a flow health (FH) score of 0.62 give a very good habitat to fishes. A minimum release of 24.8 m3/s from the dam is recommended. This study will help policymakers mitigate the impacts of degrading ecosystem health of the Bhima River.
HIGHLIGHTS
The study analyzes hydrological alterations caused by the construction dam, which have disturbed the river flow regime.;
A hydraulic study was performed to determine the hydraulic parameter and to recommend the lowest flow release from the dam for habitat context.;
Pre- and post-construction river flow discharge data were used to analyse the impact of human activities on ecology of river.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:45:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97e2ea8c2a5e41b8a3465921046446ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0273-1223 1996-9732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:45:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-97e2ea8c2a5e41b8a3465921046446ff2023-09-09T08:59:14ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322023-08-0188376377710.2166/wst.2023.236236Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem healthGunjan J. Mishra0Akula Uday Kumar1Mahesh R. Tapas2Praveen Oggu3K. V. Jayakumar4 Water Resources Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, Telangana 506004, India Central Ground Water Board, Faridabad 121001, India East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA Department of Civil Engineering, Vardhaman College of Engineering, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, Telangana 506004, India Numerous anthropogenic activities like the construction of large dams, storages, and barrages changed the watershed characteristics impacting ecosystem health. In this study, the hydrological alterations (HAs) that have occurred in the Bhima River due to the construction of the Ujjani dam were analyzed. The hydraulic analysis is also performed to determine the hydraulic parameter and recommend the lowest flow release from the dam for improving ecosystem health. Fifty-eight years of data starting from the year 1960 to 2018 were gathered at Yadgir station, which is located downstream of the Ujjani dam. The data were divided into pre- and post-construction river flow discharge. To check for the change in the river flow regime for the post-dam construction period, HA was calculated using Flow Health Software (FHS). The results demonstrate that the dam impoundment reduces high flows primarily by storing flood flow for water supply, irrigation, etc. The velocity and depth provided by the environmental design flow for a flow health (FH) score of 0.62 give a very good habitat to fishes. A minimum release of 24.8 m3/s from the dam is recommended. This study will help policymakers mitigate the impacts of degrading ecosystem health of the Bhima River. HIGHLIGHTS The study analyzes hydrological alterations caused by the construction dam, which have disturbed the river flow regime.; A hydraulic study was performed to determine the hydraulic parameter and to recommend the lowest flow release from the dam for habitat context.; Pre- and post-construction river flow discharge data were used to analyse the impact of human activities on ecology of river.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/3/763bhima riverdamsenvironmental flowflow health softwarehydrological alterations |
| spellingShingle | Gunjan J. Mishra Akula Uday Kumar Mahesh R. Tapas Praveen Oggu K. V. Jayakumar Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health Water Science and Technology bhima river dams environmental flow flow health software hydrological alterations |
| title | Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health |
| title_full | Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health |
| title_short | Evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the Ujjani dam to improve the Bhima River ecosystem health |
| title_sort | evaluating hydrological alterations and recommending minimum flow release from the ujjani dam to improve the bhima river ecosystem health |
| topic | bhima river dams environmental flow flow health software hydrological alterations |
| url | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/3/763 |
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