Environmental Flows Legislation and Regulations in Foreign Countries and the Enlightenment to China

Chen, Chang Chun; Wang, La Chun; Cao, Xue Zhang; Song, Jie

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.295-298.2181

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…A river is an important carrier of natural resources; it promotes regional development with its huge economic and ecological value. However, continuous population growth and overuse of water results in negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem of a river: declination of the natural flows, disappearance of native fish species and degeneration of river ecological systems (Chen et al, 2013). Environmental flow (e-flow) refers to a flow regime designed to maintain a river at a specified ecological condition (Smakhtin & Eriyagama, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustaining environmental flows in water‐deficient rivers via inter‐basin hydropower transfer

Gao

Liu

Sun

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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In water-deficient rivers, environmental flows (e-flows) are usually sustained via interbasin water transfer projects from water-sufficient rivers, but these projects incur tremendous costs and may lead to many negative ecological effects, such as ecological invasion. This research proposed to transfer hydropower instead of water from watersufficient rivers, because hydropower could substitute for water to promote economic development and reduce water withdrawal from water-deficient rivers (conserved water). In addition, based on the analysis of eco-hydrological processes, the flow regime alteration plays an important role in restoring riverine ecosystem. With the goal of minimum flow regime alternation, we set up two scenarios to distribute the annual conserved water, and determined the optimal amount of transferred hydropower and the optimal use of conserved water, which could effectively sustain the e-flows. Accordingly, this paper established a computable general equilibrium model to analyse the substitution of hydropower for water in a water-deficient river basin, and determined the water withdrawal volume that could be reduced. We adopted a range-ofvariability approach to measure the degree of flow regime alteration, and optimized the flow regime management scheme. The Luanhe River Basin was adopted as a study case. The results showed that: the water-hydropower equivalent decreased as the transferred hydropower into the Luanhe River Basin increased; a transferred hydropower amount of 22.46 kWh/s, equivalent to 18.30 m 3 /s conserved water, was optimal for the river basin; the conserved water should be distributed to the Luanhe River in the proportions of 0.55:0.1:0.35 during the wet, normal and dry seasons, respectively, which is the optimal scheme to sustain the hydrological processes of the river.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustaining environmental flows in water‐deficient rivers via inter‐basin hydropower transfer

Gao

Liu

Sun

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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A legislative framework for environmental flow implementation: 30‐years operation in Japan

Shinozaki

Shirakawa

2021

River Research & Apps

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The Japanese environmental flow (e-flow) concept and framework are outlined in the current study. We first review the natural and historical background related to the establishment and implementation of the e-flow framework in Japan. We then summarize the national guidelines used to assess e-flows. Finally, we discuss a river for which the guidelines have been applied to set e-flow requirements. It is legally mandated that flows be established to maintain the riverine environments of class A rivers managed by the national government. These correspond to e-flows, which are referred to as maintenance flows in Japan. A Guideline established in 1997 provides detailed instructions on how to assess e-flows, and the e-flow framework has been implemented for 100 class A rivers according to the guidelines. E-flow objectives in Japan are intended to benefit ecosystems through the protection of river habitats and fisheries and the protection and maintenance of water quality, groundwater levels, riverine scenery, and navigable waterways. E-flow objectives also address cultural and social needs, such as the prevention of salt damage and estuary clogging, and the protection of wooden infrastructure management facilities. Although Japanese rivers are characterized by large fluctuations and sudden peaks in flow, there has been little discussion about e-flow evaluation methods that take flow variability into consideration. This is because dams on Japanese river basins control only a small percentage of total runoff volume. This is one reason why the guidelines for setting e-flows focus only on the minimum flows required to prevent extreme low-flow conditions.

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A meta-analysis of drought effects on litter decomposition in streams

2023

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Droughts, or severe reductions of water flow, are expected to become more frequent and intense in rivers in many regions under the ongoing climate change scenario. It is therefore important to understand stream ecosystem functioning under drought conditions. We performed a meta-analysis of studies addressing drought effects on litter decomposition in streams (50 studies contributing 261 effect sizes) to quantify overall drought effects on this key ecosystem process and to identify the main moderators controlling these effects. Drought reduced litter decomposition by 43% overall, which can impact energy and matter fluxes along heterotrophic food webs. The magnitude of drought effects on litter decomposition depended on the type of drought (natural drought > human-induced drought), type of decomposer community (microbes + macroinvertebrates > microbes) under natural drought, climate (warm and humid > temperate and Mediterranean) under human-induced drought, and on litter identity. The magnitude of drought effects on litter decomposition also increased with the severity of the drought. The effects of ongoing climate change will likely be strongest in streams with abundant shredders undergoing natural drought, especially if the streams become temporary. The composition of the riparian vegetation may modulate the magnitude of drought effects on litter decomposition, which may have management applications.

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Environmental Flows Legislation and Regulations in Foreign Countries and the Enlightenment to China

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Sustaining environmental flows in water‐deficient rivers via inter‐basin hydropower transfer

Sustaining environmental flows in water‐deficient rivers via inter‐basin hydropower transfer

A legislative framework for environmental flow implementation: 30‐years operation in Japan

A meta-analysis of drought effects on litter decomposition in streams

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