Assessment of land cover changes & water quality changes in the Zayandehroud River Basin between 1997–2008

Water quality of rivers is strongly influenced by landscape characteristics of their watershed, including land use /cover types, and their spatial configuration. This research evaluates the effects of land cover changes on the water quality of the Zayandehroud River, which is the most important river in the center of Iran. The main goal of this study was to quantify the change in rangelands, forests, and bare lands in the Zayandehroud river basin, which suffered intense human interference, in a period of 11 years (1997–2008), and to evaluate how landscape patterns (including the number of patches, edge density, percentage of rangelands, forests, and bare lands) influence on the 14 water quality indices (including BOD5, EC, NO3, P, and TDS) measured in 10 stations along the river. Results showed that from 1997 to 2008, bare lands increased from 5.8 to 20 %, while rangelands decreased from 70 to 55 % in the whole basin. The results indicated that water quality was significantly correlated with both the proportions and configuration of rangeland and bare land areas. The total edge (TE) of rangeland area had positive effects on water quality, especially on BOD5 and EC. Percentage of landscape (PLAND) and largest patch index (LPI) metrics of rangeland had positive effect on decreasing nutrient (NO₃, PO₄). The results showed that water quality was more likely degraded when there was high edge density (ED) of bare lands. Results of this study also revealed that degradation of rangeland lead to the degradation of water quality. Finding of this study highlights the importance of rangeland conservation in water quality management at landscape scale.     

The effect of river damming on vegetation: is it always unfavourable? A case study from the River Tiber (Italy)

River damming leads to strong hydromorphological alterations of the watercourse, consequently affecting river vegetation pattern. A multitemporal and spatial analysis of the dam effect on composition, structure and dynamic of the upstream vegetation was performed on Tiber River at Nazzano-dam (Rome). The main research questions were as follows: How does plant landscape vary over time and along the river? Where does the dam effect on vegetation end? How does naturalistic importance of the vegetation affected by damming change over time? Data collection was performed mapping the vegetation in aerial photos related to the period before (1944), during (1954) and after dam construction (1984, 2000). The plant landscape has significantly changed over time and along the river, particularly as a result of the dam construction (1953). The major vegetation changes have involved riparian forests and macrophytes. Dam effect on vegetation is evident up to 3 km, and gradually decreases along an attenuation zone for about another 3 km. Despite the fact that the damming has caused strong local hydromorphological modification of the river ecosystem transforming it into a sub-lacustrine habitat, it has also led to the formation of wetlands of considerable naturalistic importance. Indeed, in these man-made wetlands, optimal hydrological conditions have been created by favouring both the expansion of pre-existing riparian communities and the rooting of new aquatic communities, albeit typical of lacustrine ecosystems. Some of these plant communities have become an important food resource, refuge or nesting habitats for aquatic fauna, while others fall into category of Natura 2000 habitats. Therefore, river damming seems to have indirectly had a “favourable” effect for habitat conservation and local biodiversity.     

Interpreting major industrial landscapes: Social follow-up on meanings, the case of two aluminium smelters, Alcan (Alma, Canada) and Pechiney (Dunkirk, France)

Landscape is becoming an object of growing social concern and, as such, an object of mediation between major industrial producers and local communities. The question of the capacity of environmental assessment to address this issue is thus raised. Until now, landscape studies have focused on visual aspects, although subjective dimensions such as perceptions and meanings have been recognised. The research in this article concerns the subjective dimensions, and is presented with a view to further the understanding of the process of the social interpretation of landscape as it relates to heavy industrial sites. Within a socioconstructivist perspective, two case studies (a longitudinal follow-up and an ex-post) of two aluminum smelters, one in Alma (Quebec, Canada) and the other in Dunkirk (France) were conducted. The results show that nearby residents' interpretations of landscape varied according to three sets of factors related to 1) the dynamics of regional development and the historical place of industry in the community, 2) the relationship between residents and the industry and local governance capacities, and 3) the social impacts experienced. To conclude, three ways of using qualitative methodologies for social and environmental follow-up in a socioconstructivist approach to landscape are proposed.     

水生态环境质量评价方法及在黄河流域的应用进展

开展水生态环境质量评价方法研究,建立合适的河流健康评价体系是解决河流健康问题的前提和实现河流健康管理的重要手段。黄河自上而下生态环境现状迥异,水生态环境脆弱,寻求一种或多种适合黄河流域水生态环境质量的评价方法具有重要意义。该文介绍了国内外水生态环境质量评价方法及在黄河流域的应用进展,总结了鱼类生物完整性指数(F-IBI)、底栖无脊椎动物完整指数(B-IBI)、着生藻类生物完整性指数(P-IBI)及水生态环境质量综合评价法的主要指标,以及黄河流域不同区域生物种类的评价指标,分析了各评价方法优缺点及应用范围,并根据目前研究基础评述了黄河流域水生态环境质量评价存在的问题,对黄河流域水生态环境质量评价方法、指示生物的选择及水生态环境质量综合评价法的研究等提出了具体建议。     

Identification of source of faecal pollution of Tirumanimuttar River, Tamilnadu, India using microbial source tracking

Efficient management of deteriorating water bodies can be achieved by determining the sources of faecal pollution. Resourceful techniques for discrimination of the sources of Escherichia coli in surface water have recently been developed, including the use of river water to facilitate faecal indicator surveillance, identification of sources of faecal contamination and employing relevant management practices to maintain water quality. This study was conducted to employ microbial source tracking (MST) techniques for the determination of the sources of faecal pollution based on a water quality investigation of the physico-chemical characteristics and coliform count point of the Tirumanimuttar River. To accomplish this, an MST library-based antibiotic resistance analysis, serotyping and the genomic tool rep-PCR techniques were applied, and the obtained results were analysed statistically. Among 135 and 70 E. coli isolates present in the library and water samples collected from the river and nearby well water sources, respectively, most showed intrinsic, high or moderate resistance to antibiotics. Isolates from human and pig faecal sources were 92% homologous with the samples from the river, whereas isolates from sewage and dairy cattle showed 89% and 80% homology, respectively. These findings indicated that the Tirumanimuttar River is subjected to stress from anthropogenic activities and runoff contaminated with agricultural and human faecal contamination. The sources of faecal pollution identified in this study may facilitate the monitoring and management of the Tirumanimuttar River.     

Automated riverine landscape characterization: GIS-based tools for watershed-scale research, assessment, and management

River systems consist of hydrogeomorphic patches (HPs) that emerge at multiple spatiotemporal scales. Functional process zones (FPZs) are HPs that exist at the river valley scale and are important strata for framing whole-watershed research questions and management plans. Hierarchical classification procedures aid in HP identification by grouping sections of river based on their hydrogeomorphic character; however, collecting data required for such procedures with field-based methods is often impractical. We developed a set of GIS-based tools that facilitate rapid, low cost riverine landscape characterization and FPZ classification. Our tools, termed RESonate, consist of a custom toolbox designed for ESRI ArcGIS®. RESonate automatically extracts 13 hydrogeomorphic variables from readily available geospatial datasets and datasets derived from modeling procedures. An advanced 2D flood model, FLDPLN, designed for MATLAB® is used to determine valley morphology by systematically flooding river networks. When used in conjunction with other modeling procedures, RESonate and FLDPLN can assess the character of large river networks quickly and at very low costs. Here we describe tool and model functions in addition to their benefits, limitations, and applications.     

Screening for Stockholm Convention persistent organic pollutants in the Bosna River (Bosnia and Herzogovina)

The Stockholm Convention, which aspires to manage persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at the international level, was recently ratified in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Despite this fact, there is in general a paucity of data regarding the levels of POPs in the environment in BiH. In the present study, screening for POPs was conducted in one of the country’s major rivers, the Bosna. A two-pronged approach was applied using passive samplers to detect the freely dissolved and bioavailable concentrations in the water phase and sediment analysis to provide an integrated measure of historical contamination. At several places along the river, the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were high and exhibited potential for both chronic and acute effects to biota. River water also showed elevated concentrations of PAH, up to 480 ng L^?1 near the city of Doboj, and diagnostic ratios suggested combustion sources for the contamination present in both types of sample. The levels of the other contaminants measured—polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers—were generally low in the water phase. However, PCBs and some OCPs were present in river sediments at levels which breach the international criteria and thus suggest potential for ecological damage. Additionally, the levels of heptachlor breached these criteria in many of the sites investigated. This study presents the first screening data for some of these Stockholm Convention relevant compounds in BiH and reveals both low concentrations of some chemical groups, but significant point sources and historic contamination for others.     

基于着生硅藻多参数指标评价赤水河生态状况

随着人类活动的加剧,赤水河生态状况受到越来越多的关注,全面了解赤水河的生态状况,识别影响生态状况的主要环境胁迫因子对于赤水河的管理十分重要。笔者分别于2016年春季(4月)和秋季(9月)对赤水河干流着生硅藻及主要环境指标展开系统调查,春季以曲壳藻属相对丰度、高需氧物种、高磷物种、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数为核心参数,秋季以低需氧物种、物种丰富度、高营养物种为核心参数,构建了着生硅藻多参数指标(D-MMIs)。对赤水河干流生态状况进行评估。结果表明:调查期间,赤水河干流中上游样点水体状况优于下游样点,并且春、秋季赤水河生态状况存在差异。D-MMIs与环境因子的回归分析结果显示:影响春季赤水河生态状况的环境因子为COD,影响秋季赤水河生态状况的环境因子为NH4_+~-N。构建的赤水河D-MMIs,能够较好地指示环境胁迫因子对赤水河生态状况的影响,对于指导赤水河的管理实践具有参考价值。     

Water pollution of Sabarmati River—a Harbinger to potential disaster

River Sabarmati is one of the biggest and major river of Gujarat that runs through two major cities of Gujarat, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad and finally meets the Gulf of Khambhat (GoK) in the Arabian Sea. A study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of this river, as it could possibly be one of the major sources for filling up Kalpasar, the proposed man-made freshwater reservoir supposed to be the biggest one in the world. A total of nine sampling stations were established covering 163 km stretch of the river from upstream of Gandhinagar city to Vataman near Sabarmati estuary. Physicochemical (temprature, pH, salinity, chloride, total dissolved solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, phenol, and petroleum hydrocarbons), biological (phytoplankton), and microbiological (total and selective bacterial count) analyses indicated that the river stretch from Ahmedabad-Vasana barriage to Vataman was highly polluted due to perennial waste discharges mainly from municipal drainage and industries. An implementation of sustainable management plan with proper treatment of both municipal and industrial effluents is essential to prevent further deterioration of the water quality of this river.     

Optimizing water quality monitoring networks using continuous longitudinal monitoring data: a case study of Wen-Rui Tang River, Wenzhou, China

Identification of representative sampling sites is a critical issue in establishing an effective water quality monitoring program. This is especially important at the urban-agriculture interface where water quality conditions can change rapidly over short distances. The objective of this research was to optimize the spatial allocation of discrete monitoring sites for synoptic water quality monitoring through analysis of continuous longitudinal monitoring data collected by attaching a water quality sonde and GPS to a boat. Sampling was conducted six times from March to October 2009 along a 6.5 km segment of the Wen-Rui Tang River in eastern China that represented an urban-agricultural interface. When travelling at a velocity of ～2.4 km h(-1), this resulted in water quality measurements at ～20 m interval. Ammonia nitrogen (NH(4)(+)-N), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity data were collected and analyzed using Cluster Analysis (CA) to identify optimal locations for establishment of long-term monitoring sites. The analysis identified two distinct water quality segments for NH(4)(+)-N and EC and three distinct segments for DO and turbidity. According to our research results, the current fixed-location sampling sites should be adjusted to more effectively capture the distinct differences in the spatial distribution of water quality conditions. In addition, this methodology identified river reaches that require more comprehensive study of the factors leading to the changes in water quality within the identified river segment. The study demonstrates that continuous longitudinal monitoring can be a highly effective method for optimizing monitoring site locations for water quality studies.     

Status and Trends of Ontario's Sydenham River Ecosystem in Relation to Aquatic Species at Risk

The Sydenham River in southwestern Ontario is located in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone, which supports the greatest diversity of flora and fauna in Canada. The river historically supported a rich aquatic community that included 80 fishes and 34 species of freshwater mussels. Fourteen aquatic species native to the river (8 fishes, 5 mussels and 1 turtle) have been designated as endangered, threatened, or of special concern by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Canada (COSEWIC). A multi-agency Recovery Team was formed in 1999 to ensure the continued survival of these and other rare species in the river. The Sydenham River Recovery Team is the first in Canada to adopt an ecosystem approach to recovery planning for aquatic species. Information on land use patterns, water quality trends, the physical condition of the river, and the distributions of aquatic species at risk was synthesized to gain an understanding of the overall health of the river and its major anthropogenic stresses. Seven of the species at risk have declined in distribution or abundance, and three may be extirpated. The main threat to fishes and mussels is heavy loadings of sediment, nutrients, and possibly pesticides to the river via tile drainage and overland runoff from agricultural lands. A strategy that incorporates four overall approaches (management, stewardship, research and monitoring, and awareness and outreach) was developed to recover and protect this globally significant freshwater ecosystem.     

The Niagara River: A water quality management overview

The Niagara River constitutes part of the Laurentian Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system which represents approximately 80% of North America's supply of surface fresh water. The river is a major source of water for industry, municipalities, recreation and power generation and is the link between Lakes Erie and Ontario. The river forms part of the Canada-U.S. border and falls under the jurisdiction of both countries.The massive industrialization of the region surrounding the river has led to a typical resource use conflict situation in which pollution of the river continues to be a major public concern.A number of constitutional, institutional and jurisdictional factors make the management of the Niagara River an involved and complicated matter. The interests, intent, philosophies, laws and regulations are not necessarily the same among the numerous jurisdiction involved. Despite these differences, however, Canada and the United States have succeeded in developing and implementing a model cooperative international management plan for the river. An overview of the main international aspects relating to the development and implementation of this plan, the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan, is presented.     

River water quality management under incomplete information: application of an N-person iterated signaling game

One of the important issues in river quality management is to provide pollution control strategies which are acceptable for all stakeholders. When there is only one water quality checkpoint in a reach of a river which receives pollution loads of several dischargers and dischargers are penalized for any water quality violation, the game theory can be used for modeling the natural process of bargaining among load dischargers considering the assimilative capacity of a river. There are also some types of uncertainties in river water quality management which should be incorporated throughout the bargaining process. Signaling games can be utilized for modeling the bargaining among dischargers and developing perfect Bayesian equilibrium (PBE) strategies for pollution control. In this paper, a new methodology called N-person iterated signaling game is developed for river quality management considering the existing uncertainties in pollution loads of dischargers. The methodology can provide the stable PBE waste load allocation strategies. The practical utility of the proposed methodology is illustrated by applying it to a reach of the Zarjub River in Iran. This reach includes seven pollution load dischargers.     

Assessment of water quality along a recreational section of the Damour River in Lebanon using the water quality index

Considering that water is becoming progressively scarce, monitoring water quality of rivers is a subject of ongoing concern and research. It is very intricate to accurately express water quality as water quantity due to the various variables influencing it. A water quality index which integrates several variables in a specific value may be used as a management tool in water quality assessment. Moreover, this index may facilitate communication with the public and decision makers. The main objectives of this research project are to evaluate the water quality index along a recreational section of a relatively small Mediterranean river in Southern Lebanon and to characterize the spatial and temporal variability. Accordingly, an assessment was conducted at the end of the dry season for a period of 5 years from 2005 to 2009. The estimated water quality index classified the average water quality over a 5-year period at the various sites as good. Results revealed that water quality of the Damour River is generally affected by the anthropogenic activities taking place along its watershed. The best quality was found in the upper sites and the worst at the estuary. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in very high levels may indicate potential health risks to swimmers. This study can be used to support the evaluation of management, regulatory, and monitoring decisions.     

Sources and distribution of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in Japanese river sediment

The distribution of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in the sediment of three Japanese rivers with different characteristics (i.e., population and potential source in the catchment) was investigated and compared with the results estimated using a multimedia fate model (ChemCAN). High concentrations of HBCD in sediments in the range of 134-2060 ng g(-1) were found in a river receiving textile wastewater. This contrasted with the much lower concentrations (0.8-4.8 ng g(-1)) observed for an urban river (with a surrounding population of 1.8 million). The medians of observed HBCD concentrations in each river were close to those estimated based on the assumed input source (e.g., 1810 ng g(-1) for the observed median concentration, and 1436 ng g(-1) for the estimation, in the Kuzuryu River). These results demonstrated the importance of considering source contributions of HBCD, including both industrial and consumer sources, to aquatic environments, for reliable risk management.     

Development of a novel solid-phase extraction element for the detection of nonylphenol in the surface water of Hangzhou

Nonylphenol (NP) is a representative environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical and persistent toxic pollutant. Previous studies have shown that the average concentration of NP in environmental waters was approximately tens to hundreds of ng L(-1) and it could even reach up to tens of μg L(-1). A simple, fast and accurate method employing a novel solid-phase extraction element named "Magic Chemisorber" (MC) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a fluorescence detector (FLD) was used for detecting NP. The most important parameters that affect the extraction process, including extraction time, desorption time, desorption solvent and repeatability, were optimized. The MC-HPLC method showed good linearity with concentrations of NP from 10 to 200 μg L(-1), a correlation coefficient of 0.9995 and the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of this method was 0.44 and 1.47 μg L(-1), respectively. Compared to commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) glass fiber, MC had both higher capacity and recovery and it could be used repeatedly. Using the MC-HPLC method we found that the concentration of NP in river water from Hangzhou city ranged from 8.54 ± 1.23 μg L(-1) (Qiantang River) to 65.77 ± 3.69 μg L(-1) (Tiesha River), which was similar to that of international regions heavily polluted with NP and higher than that of Bohai Bay, the Yellow River and the Pearl River Delta in China. This level of NP pollution is possibly related to the rapid development of the textile, printing and paper industries of Zhejiang province.     

Calculating of river water quality sampling frequency by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)

River water quality sampling frequency is an important aspect of the river water quality monitoring network. A suitable sampling frequency for each station as well as for the whole network will provide a measure of the real water quality status for the water quality managers as well as the decision makers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is an effective method for decision analysis and calculation of weighting factors based on multiple criteria to solve complicated problems. This study introduces a new procedure to design river water quality sampling frequency by applying the AHP. We introduce and combine weighting factors of variables with the relative weights of stations to select the sampling frequency for each station, monthly and yearly. The new procedure was applied for Jingmei and Xindian rivers, Taipei, Taiwan. The results showed that sampling frequency should be increased at high weighted stations while decreased at low weighted stations. In addition, a detailed monitoring plan for each station and each month could be scheduled from the output results. Finally, the study showed that the AHP is a suitable method to design a system for sampling frequency as it could combine multiple weights and multiple levels for stations and variables to calculate a final weight for stations, variables, and months.     

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative: Nutrients and Dissolved Oxygen – Issues and Impacts

Anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and oxygen-consuming material to aquatic ecosystems can change nutrient dynamics, deplete oxygen, and change abundance and diversity of aquatic plants and animals. The Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative required a research and assessment program to establish the contribution of pulp mill and sewage discharges to eutrophication and depressions in dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Athabasca and Wapiti rivers of northern Alberta, Canada and examine the adequacy of existing guidelines for protecting these systems. Analysis of long-term data showed that total N (TN) and total P (TP) concentrations in exposed river reaches exceeded concentrations in reference reaches by ≤ 2 times for the Athabasca River, and by 9.6 (TP) and 2.6 (TN) times for the Wapiti River. Results from nutrient limitation experiments conducted in situ and in mesocosms showed that benthic algal production was nutrient sufficient downstream of pulp mill discharges but constrained in upper river reaches by insufficient P (Athabasca River) or N + P (Wapiti River). Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in both rivers declined during winter such that median concentrations in the Athabasca River 945 km downstream of the headwaters were approximately 8 mg L⁻¹ in mid-February. Although water column DO rarely approached the guideline of 6.5 mg L⁻¹, DO studies undertaken in the Wapiti River showed that pore water DO often failed to meet this guideline and could not be predicted from water column DO. Results from this integrated program of monitoring and experimentation have improved understanding of the interactions between nutrients, DO and aquatic ecosystem productivity and resulted in recommendations for revisions to nutrient and DO guidelines for these northern rivers.The Canadian Crown reserves the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright.     

跨界流域环境管理与预警——欧洲经验与启示

工业革命以后,欧洲流域的污染事故进入高发期,欧洲各国以流域为单位,共同商讨对策,联合开展治理工作,使流域水环境得到了很大的改善.目前,欧洲对流域的管理已经形成了一套较为科学、成熟的模式.针对中国水环境污染事故频发的状况,总结了莱茵河流域管理模式和多瑙河流域预警系统的发展经验,对构建中国流域范围内环境预警系统提出了相关思...