Reservoir volume optimization and performance evaluation of rooftop catchment systems in arid regions: A case study of Birjand, Iran

This study evaluated the performance of rooftop catchment systems in securing non-potable water supply in Birjand, located in an arid area in southeastern Iran. The rooftop catchment systems at seven study sites of different residential buildings were simulated for dry, normal, and wet water years, using 31-year rainfall records. The trial and error approach and mass diagram method were employed to optimize the volume of reservoirs in five different operation scenarios. Results showed that, during the dry water year from 2000 to 2001, for reservoirs with volumes of 200-20000 L, the proportion of days that could be secured for non-portable water supply was on average computed to be 16.4%-32.6% across all study sites. During the normal water year from 2009 to 2010 and the wet water year from 1995 to 1996, for reservoirs with volumes of 200-20000 L, the proportions were 20.8%-69.6% and 26.8%-80.3%, respectively. Therefore, a rooftop catchment system showed a high potential to meet a significant portion of non-potable water demand in the Birjand climatic region. Reservoir volume optimization using the mass diagram method produced results consistent with those obtained with the trial and error approach, except at sites #1, #2, and #5. At these sites, the trial and error approach performed better than the mass diagram method due to relatively high water consumption. It is concluded that the rooftop catchment system is applicable under the same climatic conditions as the study area, and it can be used as a drought mitigation strategy as well.

Restorating marine coastal ecosystem health as a new goad for integrated catchment management in Tolo Harbour,Hong Kong,China

The paper demonstrates why it is necessary to take the restoration of marine coastal ecosystem health as a new goal for integrated catchment management, in coastal area of the Tolo Harbour. The present goal of integrated catchment management (ICM) in the Tolo Harbour is to meet with Water Quality Objectives. The performance of an ICM plan, Tolo Harbour Action Plan (THAP), is evaluated by using marine coastal ecosystem health indicators including stress indicators and responses indicators. Since the implementation of THAP in 1988, some significant reduction in pollution loading has been observed - reduction of 83 % of BOD load and 82 % of TN between 1988 and 1999. There has been an improvement in the health state of Tolo Harbour marine coastal ecosystem as evidenced in the trends of the physical, chemical and biological indicators, although some reverse fluctuations in some periods exist. However, this can only be considered as the first sign of the ecosystem health restoration, since ecosystem health

Integrated Catchment Value Systems

Historic models of conservation are being superseded by the integration of ecological, economic and social dimensions into a simultaneously sustainable and supportive whole. This transition is evident as South Africa evolves from an apartheid history to novel governance including the equitable, sustainable and efficient use of water within an arid and increasingly climate-challenged landscape. The concept of ‘value chains’, established in industrial and government thinking, has been applied to wa-ter issues. We explore and extend ‘value chain’ thinking to cover various important dimensions of water management, taking account of both developed-world assumptions and developing world realities. This analysis exposes the limitations of linear ‘value chains’, and the need to join them up into cyclic sys-tems if they are to protect or improve the capacity of water systems to support the sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing of people dependent upon diverse ecosystem services within catchments. Informed by practical work by the authors in catchments within South Africa, we develop an integrated catchment value system model to support action research dialogues for the delivery of sustainable water ser-vices.

Status of Water Quality in Mt. Elgon, Cherangany Forested Ecosystems and entire River Nzoia Catchment in Kenya

Water availability for both domestic and industrial use is a major growing problem in the developing countries including Kenya. The situation is further worsened by increasing human population and climate change, probably the most complex environmental problem facing the world today. Mt. Elgon and Cherangany hills forest ecosystems in the River Nzoia Catchment are threatened by the increase in local population. This is causing environmental degradation and disruption in the catchment areas resulting in drying up of streams and rivers and both water and soil pollution. The objective of this study was to conduct a baseline survey to provide information on the status of water quality in the River Nzoia Catchment and an overview of pollution levels, sources and possible mitigation measures. The study was carried out in August 2017 during the short rains. Water and sediments from 26 spatially distributed sites on rivers in the catchment were sampled and analyzed. The water quality (physical and chemical) was assessed through analysis of water and sediments. Both water and sediments were analyzed following the standard analytical methods. All the rivers in the watersheds forming the River Nzoia catchment contained high levels of iron in water which exceeded permitted levels for drinking without treatment and for domestic uses in the environmental. In addition, the turbidity levels of water were beyond accepted limits set for drinking water and environmental water standards. There was little pollution of water from heavy metals. River Nzoia near Webuye town and Sigomre bridge were the most polluted waters with levels of nitrates, iron, copper, chromium, with BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) exceeding the accepted limits in the environment. For sediments, the contents of copper, magnesium and iron were high in the upper catchment of River Nzoia (foot slopes of Mt. Elgon). The levels of nitrates and phosphates in the sediments were high in the lower parts of the catchment. The recommended interventions to manage point or non-point pollution sources include: land and soil conservation to reduce erosion, precision in fertilizer usage, proper sewage and industrial effluent treatment and disposal. The mitigation measures should be at the sub-catchment level to reduce land, soil and water pollution. Technologies for soil and water conservation including afforestation on bare lands, control of overland flow, reduction on river bank cultivation and conservation agriculture practices will reduce pollution and conserve the environment.

Assessment of Payment for Ecosystem Services in Zomba Mountain Forest Catchment Area, Malawi

The emergence of Payment for Ecosystem Services （PES） concept has raised expectations that ecosystem conservation can be achieved through popular payments rather than through unpopular measures of command and control. A study on PES was conducted in Zomba Mountain Forest （ZMF） catchment area in southern Malawi between August and December 2009. The aim was to assess stakeholders＇ role that would promote payment for ecosystem services as a management tool. A purposive sampling was used to identify the respondents who were randomly sampled for interviews. The findings show that PES can be used as a management tool in ZMF as there are key stakeholders who benefit from the catchment area in terms of services. While there is moderate level of PES awareness among the community and other stakeholders, the current forest policy does not address PES which may derail implementation of a fully fledged PES arrangement. The study revealed that existing management challenges originate from inadequate funding that ZMF Reserve gets from government. However, this challenge offers opportunities to stakeholders through PES to contribute and participate in conserving ZMF for sustained flow of benefits.

A STUDY OF SOIL CONSERVATION MONITORING INFORMATION SYSTEM BASED ON REMOTELY SENSED DATA FOR A CATCHMENT ON THE LOESS PLATEAU

The Soil Conservation Monitorins Information System (SCMIS) presented in this paper is oriented to soil erosion control, resources exploitation, utilization, planning and management for a small watershed (about 10 sq. km.) on the Loess Plateau. It sums up Remote sensing (RS), Geographical Information System (GIS) and Expert System (ES) and consists of a integrated system. As a basic level information system of Loess Plateau, its perfection and psreading will bring about a great advance in resources exploitation and management of Loess Plateau.

Discussion on the Technological Path of Promoting the Sponge City Construction by Systematic Scheme in Small Catchment

Construction of the sponge city by small catchment is going to be the fundamental approach to contiguously promote the development of sponge city during the next phase in China.An effective guiding scheme to guarantee the contiguous promotion of sponge city is the systematic scheme of sponge city.An area in Shenzhen is taken as an example,and the compiling method and challenges of systematic scheme of sponge city are explored,principally including the targets setting under small catchment,the structure of overall thinking,compiling the scheme of runoff emission reduction from the source,perfecting aquatic environment,promoting water safety by the orientation of objective and issue,as well as the integration of each scheme and arrangement of construction mission.

Modelling Land Use/Land Cover Change of River Rwizi Catchment, South-Western Uganda Using GIS and Markov Chain Model

Analysis of catchment Land use/Land cover (LULC) change is a vital tool in ensuring sustainable catchment management. The study analyzed land use/land cover changes in the Rwizi catchment, south western Uganda from 1989-2019 and projected the trend by 2040. Landsat images, field observations, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Changes in cropland, forestland, built up area, grazing land, wetland and open water bodies were analyzed in ArcGIS version 10.2.2 and ERDAS IMAGINE 14 software and a Markov chain model. All the LULC classes increased in area except grazing land. Forest land and builtup area between 2009-2019 increased by 370.03% and 229.53% respectively. Projections revealed an increase in forest land and builtup area by 2030 and only built up area by 2040. LULCC in the catchment results from population pressure, reduced soil fertility and high value of agricultural products.

Design Method of Rainwater Harvesting System for Afforestation in Loess Plateau

On the basis of natural conditions of lack of rainfall on the Loess Plateau, this paper presents a method of design and construction in rainwater harvesting system for afforestation, which is suitable to the regions of 300 600?mm rainfall. The system consists of micro catchments of various forms and sizes that include planting areas, where trees are planted and trapped runoff, and contributing areas, where overland flow are produced by rainfall. The design is based on rainfall, runoff coefficients of contributing areas, evapotranspiration of trees and soil surface, water deficiency of soil, and environmental capacity of precipitation in the region, and so on. Runoff coefficient of contributing areas with YJG (organic silicon chemical treatment), compacted surface soil slope and natural slope micro catchments, are 0 8 0 89, 0 23 0 36, and 0 08 0 10 respectively. According to the Penman method, the soil water deficiency varies from 50?mm to 300?mm. In the region of 400?mm precipitation, the contributing area treated with YJG is 3 4?m 2 for timber forests, 8 10?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area treated with compacted soil surface is 6 8?m\+2 for timber forests, 10 12?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area of natural slope is 8 10?m 2 for timber forests, 12 15?m 2 for cash trees respectively. Transpiration from trees of micro catchment in YJG, compacted surface soil and natural slope treatment is by 47 65% 53 31%, 24 10% 36 93%, and 18 65% 29 55% of total rainfall (rainfall and harvested rainwater) respectively after the system was applied in the region. This system, which has been widely practising on the Loess Plateau, is now known as runoff forestry.

A Comparative Study of Nitrogen Loss after Application of Biochar Coated Urea and Common Urea in Vegetable Soil at Chaihe Catchment of Dianchi Lake

[Objective] This study aimed to provide the basis for scientific and rea- sonable application of nitrogen fertilizer and control Of agricultural non-point source pollution in vegetable-growing area at Chaihe catchment of Dianchi Lake. [Method] A pot experiment was carried out to compare the loss of nitrogen via ammonia volatilization and nitrogen leaching after application of biochar coated urea （BCU） and common urea （Urea） with different nitrogen rates （0 mg N/kg soil, 400 mg N/kg soil, 320 mg N/kg soil and 280 mg N/kg soil）. [Result] The results indicated that the amount of nitrogen loss was proportional to nitrogen applied rate. Leaching nitrogen was higher than ammonia volatilization. Compare with Urea treatments, ammonia volatilization and nitrogen leaching losses were significantly lower in BCU treatments at the same nitrogen application rate. At the nitrogen application rate of 320 and 280 mg N/kg soil, nitrogen loss, ammonia volatilization and leaching nitrogen was 43.5%-45.5%, 3.7%-21.7% and 49.8%-52.1% lower in BCU treatments than in Ure- a treatments, respectively. [Conclusion] The application of BCU could minimize nitro- gen loss by reducing nitrate leaching loss. It can be concluded that the low nitrogen application rate combined with BCU have a practical influence on controlling the risk of nitrogen pollution in Dianchi Lake.

Catchment-based Imperviousness Metrics Impacts on Floods in Niushou River Basin,Nanjing City,East China

Concerns regarding urbanization impacts on floods gradually moved from end-of-pipe solutions, based on open channel hydraulics improvement, to imperviousness ratio limiting and then to land use control and to integrated planning at local and large scale levels. The Niushou River basin is one of the fastest urbanizing areas in Nanjing City, East China, however, the high urban land percentage has leaded to series of flooding events. The paper aims to reveal the impact of imperviousness ratio, patterns and drainage system on flooding areas based on the unit of catchment and Storm Water Management Model(SWMM). The following conclusions were reached. 1) The ratio or spatial characteristics of the impervious surface affected the runoff volumes and associated floods areas. Despite the well-established drainage system, the high imperviousness ratio, particularly clustered pattern in locations such as hydrological sensitive zones aggravated the flooding tension across the basin. 2) The poor drainage hydraulic efficiency in local areas, and the lack of integral processes of infiltration, yield, storage and discharge in local catchment and larger basin are also significant factors. 3) The Niushou River basin development should improve the drainage transformations from a single local, short-term drainage process into integral, elastic processes of infiltration, yield, storage, and discharge.

The response of lake-glacier variations to climate change in Nam Co Catchment, central Tibetan Plateau, during 1970-2000

Based upon the 1970 aero-photo topographic map, and TM/ETM satellite images taken in 1991 and 2000, the authors artificially interpreted boundaries of lake and glaciers in Nam Co Catchment, and quantified lake-glacier area variations in different stages by ＂integrated method＂ with the support of GIS. Results show that from 1970 to 2000, lake area increased from 1942.34 km^2 to 1979.79 km^2 at a rate of 1.27 km^2/a, while glacier area decreased from 167.62 km^2 to 141.88 km^2 at a rate of 0.86 km^2/a. The increasing rate of lake in 1991-2000 was 1.76 km^2/a that was faster than 1.03 km^2/a in 1970-1991, while in the same period of time, the shrinking rates of glaciers were 0.97 km^2/a and 0.80 km^2/a respectively. Important factors, relevant to lake and glacier response to the climate, such as air temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration and their values in warm and cold seasons, were discussed. The result suggests that temperature increasing is the main reason for the accelerated melting of glaciers. Lake expansion is mainly induced by the increase of the glacier melting water, increase of precipitation and obvious decrease of potential evapotranspiration. Precipitation, evaporation and their linkages with lake enlargement on regional scale need to be thoroughly studied under the background of global warming and glacier retreating.

Application of HEC-HMS for flood forecasting in Misai and Wan'an catchments in China

The hydrologic model HEC-HMS （Hydrologic Engineering Center, Hydrologic Modeling System）, used in combination with the Geospatial Hydrologic Modeling Extension, HEC-GeoHMS, is not a site-specific hydrologic model. Although China has seen the applications of many hydrologic and hydraulic models, HEC-HMS is seldom applied in China, and where it is applied, it is not applied holistically. This paper presents a holistic application of HEC-HMS. Its applicability, capability and suitability for flood forecasting in catchments were examined. The DEMs （digital elevation models） of the study areas were processed using HEC-GeoHMS, an ArcView GIS extension for catchment delineation, terrain pre-processing, and basin processing. The model was calibrated and verified using historical observed data. The determination coefficients and coefficients of agreement for all the flood events were above 0.9, and the relative errors in peak discharges were all within the acceptable range.

Effect of vegetation on soil water retention and storage in a semi-arid alpine forest catchment

The runoff generated from mountainous regions is recognized as the main water source for inland river basins in arid environments. Thus, the mechanisms by which catchments retain water in soils are to be understood. The water storage capacity of soil depends on its depth and capacity to retain water under gravita- tional drainage and evapotranspiration. The latter can be studied through soil water retention curve （SWRC）, which is closely related to soil properties such as texture, bulk density, porosity, soil organic carbon conteMt, and so on. The present study represented SWRCs using HYDRUS-1D. In the present study, we measured pl^ysical and hydraulic properties of soil samples collected from Sabina przewalskii forest （south-facing slope with highest solar radiation）, shrubs （west-facing slope with medium radiation）, and Picea crassifolia forest （north-facing slope with lowest radiation）, and analyzed the differences in soil water storage capacity of these soil samples. Soil water content of those three vegetation covers were also measured to validate the soil water storage capacity and to analyze the relationship between soil organic matter content and soil water content. Statistical analysis showed that different vegetation covers could lead to different soil bulk densities and differences in soil water retention on the three slope aspects. Sand content, porosity, and organic carbon content of the P. crassifolia forest were rela- tively greater compared with those of the S. przewalskii forest and shrubs. However, silt content and soil bulk density were relatively smaller than those in the S. przewalskii forest and shrubs. In addition, there was a sig- nificant linear positive relationship between averaged soil water content and soil organic matter content （P〈0.0001）. However, this relationship is not significant in the P. crassifolia forest. As depicted in the SWRCs, the water storage capacity of the soil was 39.14% and 37.38% higher in the P. crassifolia forest than in the S. przewalskii forest and shrubs, respectively, at a similar soil depth.

Observed precipitation trends in the Yangtze river catchment from 1951 to 2002

The monthly, seasonal, and annual precipitation trends in the Yangtze river catchment have been detected through analysis of 51 meteorological stations' data between 1950-2002 provided by National Meteorological Administration. Results reveal that: 1) Summer precipitation in the Yangtze river catchment shows significant increasing tendency. The Poyanghu lake basin, Dongtinghu lake basin and Taihu lake basin in the middle and lower reaches are the places showing significant positive trends. Summer precipitation in the middle and lower reaches experienced an abrupt change in the year 1992; 2) The monthly precipitation in months just adjoining to summer shows decreasing tendency in the Yangtze river catchment. The upper and middle reaches in Jialingjiang river basin and Hanshui river basin are the places showing significant negative trends; 3) Extreme precipitation events show an increasing tendency in most places, especially in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze river catchment.

Decreasing Reference Evapotranspiration in a Warming Climate-A Case of Changjiang (Yangtze) River Catchment During 1970-2000

This study deals with temporal trends in the Penman-Monteith reference evapotranspiration estimated from standard meteorological observations, observed pan evaporation, and four related meteorological variables during 1970-2000 in the Yangtze River catchment. Relative contributions of the four meteorological variables to changes in the reference evapotranspiration are quantified. The results show that both the reference evapotranspiration and the pan evaporation have significant decreasing trends in the upper, the middle as well as in the whole Changjiang （Yangtze） River catchment at the 5% significance level, while the air temperature shows a significant increasing trend. The decreasing trend detected in the reference evapotranspiration can be attributed to the significant decreasing trends in the net radiation and the wind speed.

Source-sink landscape spatial characteristics and effect on non-point source pollution in a small catchment of the Three Gorge Reservoir Region

The source and sink landscape patterns refer to landscape types or units that can either promote positive evolvement of non-point source(NPS) pollution process, or can prevent/defer the ecological process, respectively. Therefore, the role of a catchment landscape pattern in nutrient losses can be identified based on the spatial arrangement of source and sink landscapes. To reveal the relations between landscape spatial characteristics and NPS pollution in small catchment, a case study was carried out in a Wangjiagou small catchment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region(TGRR), China. Google earth imagery for 2015 were processed and used to differentiate source and sink landscape types, and six subcatchments were selected as sample regions for monitoring nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients.Relative elevation, slope gradient and relative flow length was used to construct the Lorenz curves of different source and sink landscape types in the catchment, in order to assess the source and sink landscape spatial characteristics. By calculating the location-weighted landscape indices of each subcatchment and total catchment, the landscape spatial load characteristics affecting the NPS pollution was identified, with a further Pearson correlation analysis for location-weighted landscape indices and nitrogen-phosphorus monitoring indicators. The analysis of Lorenz curve has revealed that the obtained distribution trend of Lorenz curve and curve area quantified well the spatial characteristics of source and sink landscape pattern related to the relative elevation, slope gradient and relative flow length in small catchment. Results of Pearson correction analysis indicated that location-weighted landscape index(LWLI) combining of terrain and landscape type factor did better in reflecting the status of nitrogen and phosphorus loss than the indices related to relative elevation, slope gradient and relative flow length.

Application of GIS-based SCS-CN method in West Bank catchments,Palestine

Among the most basic challenges of hydrology are the prediction and quantification of catchment surface runoff. The runoff curve number （CN） is a key factor in determining runoff in the SCS （Soil Conservation Service） based hydrologic modeling method. The traditional SCS-CN method for calculating the composite curve number is very tedious and consumes a major portion of the hydrologic modeling time. Therefore, geographic information systems （G/S） are now being used in combination with the SCS-CN method. This paper assesses the modeling of flow in West Bank catchments using the GIS-based SCS-CN method. The West Bank, Palestine, is characterized as an arid to semi-arid region with annual rainfall depths ranging between 100 mm in the vicinity of the Jordan River to 700 mm in the mountains extending across the central parts of the region. The estimated composite curve number for the entire West Bank is about 50 assuming dry conditions. This paper clearly demonstrates that the integration of GIS with the SCS-CN method provides a powerful tool for estimating runoff volumes in West Bank catchments, representing arid to semi-arid catchments of Palestine.

Comparison of water quality in two catchments with different forest types in the headwater region of the Hun River, Northeast China

In the headwater catchments of the Hun River,Northeast China, secondary forests(SF) have been replaced by plantations since the 1960 s. Concern has been growing over this loss and the decline in water quality caused by the plantations. To test the effects of plantations on water quality, we selected two separate catchments covered by SF and Pinus koraiensis plantations(KP) to monitor physical and chemical properties of various hydrological variables including throughfall, stemflow,through-litterfall and runoff(flowing out of outlets of the catchments). The physical properties of water declined after water flowed through the two catchments as compared with rainwater. The pH of runoff in both catchments also dramatically decreased. The concentrations of Cl^-, NO_3^- and NH_4^+ in the runoff from the two catchments were similar(concentrations of Cl-and NH_4^+ in both catchments were similar to those in rainwater). Total P concentration in runoff of the SF catchment was higher than that of the KP catchment(P concentrations in both catchments were also higher than in rainwater) because P concentrations in litter and soil of the SF catchment were higher than those in the KP catchment. In summary, the rainwater became acidic in both catchments, but the responses of most water quality variables were similar in the two catchments, suggesting that appropriate ratios of KP in SF are feasible for secondary forest recovery and for preserving water quality(KP did not cause a decline in quality) in the headstream regions in Northeast of China.

Relationships between Landslide Types and Topographic Attributes in a Loess Catchment,China

Topographic attributes have been identified as the most important factor in controlling the initiation and distribution of shallow landslides triggered by rainfall.As a result,these landslides influence the evolution of local surface topography.In this research,an area of 2.6 km 2 loess catchment in the Huachi County was selected as the study area locating in the Chinese Loess Plateau.The landslides inventory and landslide types were mapped using global position system(GPS) and field mapping.The landslide inventory shows that these shallow landslides involve different movement types including slide,creep and fall.Meanwhile,main topographic attributes were generated based on a high resolution digital terrain model(5 m × 5 m),including aspect,slope shape,elevation,slope angle and contributing area.These maps were overlaid with the spatial distributions of total landslides and each type of landslides in a geographic information system(GIS),respectively,to assess their spatial frequency distributions and relative failure potentials related to these selected topographic attributes.The spatial analysis results revealed that there is a close relation between the topographic attributes of the postlandsliding local surface and the types of landslide movement.Meanwhile,the types of landslide movement have some obvious differences in local topographic attributes,which can influence the relative failure potential of different types of landslides.These results have practical significance to mitigate natural hazard and understandgeomorphologic process in thick loess area.