An evidence-based approach for integrating ecological, hydrological and consumptive models to optimize flow management: a proof of concept

Nichols, Susan J.; Powell, Sue; Peat, Michael; Johnson, W. Wesley

doi:10.1080/01442872.2016.1188905

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Pulsed flows are water releases from structures, such as dams, reservoir and weirs, to affect water transfers between storages to meet certain demands and water supply requirements (Watts et al 2009a, Palmer et al 2014, Palmer and Ruhi 2019. The general form of consumptive water transfers is via a pulse flow (Richter et al 1996, Watts et al 2009b, Powell et al 2013, Nichols et al 2017. Flow regime has a significant effect on physical form, streamside zone, water quality and aquatic biota of a river (Ladson et al 1999, Bunn and Arthington 2002, Gordon et al 2004, Poff et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community structure and ecological responses to hydrological changes in benthic algal assemblages in a regulated river: application of algal metrics and multivariate techniques in river management

Atazadeh

Gell

Mills

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The flow regime of the Wimmera River was substantially modified due to the construction of a water supply reservoir. Samples of diatoms, soft algae and measurements of water quality were analysed at ten sampling sites for three years (between February 2012 and November 2014) along the MacKenzie River, a tributary of the Wimmera River, in different seasons and under different flow regimes, to understand the spatial and temporal variation in the relationship between algal communities, water quality and stream condition. Baseline information on algal communities and water quality was collected during base flow conditions, while experiments on the effect of water releases on algal communities were based on flow regime variations (manipulated flow regimes), specifically on the algae community structure, water quality and ecosystem function. Algal species composition changed along the river under different flow regimes and different seasons. Under base flow, Bacillariophyta (diatoms) were more abundant upstream and filamentous green algae were more abundant downstream.The results showed that the algal composition shifted downstream after water release events. Chlorophyta (Green algae), Cyanophyta (Blue-green algae) and Chrysophyta gradually increased from upstream to downstream under base flow conditions, and before water releases, whereas diatoms were greater upstream and increased downstream after water releases. The results suggest that by tailoring the discharge and duration of the river flows, through the amalgamation of consumptive and environmental flows would improve the condition of the stream, and supplementing the positive effects of the flows dedicated to improving environmental outcomes.

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