Check dam identification using multisource data and their effects on streamflow and sediment load in a Chinese Loess Plateau catchment

Abstract

Abstract. During the recent six decades, numerous check dams have been constructed for soil erosion control and agricultural production, and have become the key measure for soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau. Obtaining check dam information is very important for soil erosion control and river basin management. This study utilizes remote-sensing images in conjunction with Google Earth images and field survey to derive the spatial distribution of the check dams in the Huangfuchuan catchment. Multisource data including topographic maps, Landsat images, and images from Google Earth are collected for check dam identification. The results are verified based on a field survey. The water surface area of the check dams derives from in situ measurement and images present good relationship with the high correlation coefficient of 0.96. Furthermore, the area extent and number of check dams derived from the remote sensing images are similar to those from Google Earth images. Historically, an increase in the check dam number, controlled area, and storage capacity indicate their substantial trapping effects on streamflow and sediment load in the Huangfuchuan catchment. This study may be a good reference for proposing an efficient approach to identify the check dams and provide decision supports for soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis of Streamflow in the Yellow River Basin, China

“…Human activities, such as exploitation, utilization of water resources, and the construction of check dams can heavily affect streamflow variation. The number of check dams had reached 567, and the dam-controlled area was 2216.47 km 2 in 2010, accounting for 68.3% of the Huangfuchuan basin area [26]. Yang et al [39] illustrated that hydrological processes downstream of dams were closely associated with the regulating activities of reservoirs, and dam construction had significant influence on hydrological alterations.…”

“…The Huangfuchuan watershed is located in a region crisscrossed by wind and water erosion at 110°18' ~ 111°12' E and 39°12' ~ 39°54' N, with a catchment area of 3246 km of 137 km and average channel slope of 2.7%. The watershed is located in the transitional belt of warm temperate and mesothermal zones with an average precipitation of 350-450 mm, more than 80% of which occurs between June and September [26]. The Huangfuchuan watershed is one of the most severe soil erosion areas and brings approximately 0.15 billion t sediment into the Yellow River each year.…”

Check dam sediments: an important indicator of the effects of environmental changes on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau in China

“…Sometimes, a very limited change in land use can have a significant effect on regional soil erosion rates (Van Rompaey et al 2002). Changes in land uses causes changes in sediment yield, but changes in landscape structure have important consequences for sediment yield (Boix-Fayos et al 2008).…”

“…Such studies reflect the relationships between sediments and environmental change over a long period of time (Miao et al 2010(Miao et al , 2011(Miao et al , 2012. Meanwhile, physical model, Google Earth images and field survey are used to derive the spatial distribution of the check dams in Loess Plateau of China (Zheng et al 2013;Tian et al 2013;Xu et al 2009).…”

Investigating Trends in Streamflow and Precipitation in Huangfuchuan Basin with Wavelet Analysis and the Mann-Kendall Test

“…The Yellow River consists of three major reaches, the upper, the middle and the lower reaches [48], and the middle reach of the Yellow River watershed contributes significantly to the total streamflow and sediment discharge of the Yellow River [49] The Huangfuchuan is a primary tributary of the right middle reach of the Yellow River with the length of the main channel 137 km and an average channel slope of 2.7% [50]. The Huangfuchuan watershed (as shown in Figure 1) is located at 110.3˝~111.2˝E and 39.2˝~39.9˝N, with a catchment area of 3246 km 2 that is characterized by a semi-arid continental climate.…”