Estimating the minimum in-stream flow requirements via wetted perimeter method based on curvature and slope techniques

Under the assumptions of triangular cross section channel and uniform stable flow, an analytical solution of the minimum ecological in-stream flow requirement （MEIFR） is deduced. Based on the analytical solution, the uncertainty of the wetted perimeter method is analyzed by comparing the two techniques for the determination of the critical point on the relationship curve between wetted perimeter, P and discharge, Q. It is clearly shown that the results of MEIFR based on curvature technique （corresponding to the maximum curvature） and slope technique （slope being 1） are significantly different. On the P-Q curve, the slope of the critical point with the maximum curvature is 0.39 and the MEIFR varied prominently with the change of the slope threshold. This indicates that if a certain value of the slope threshold is not available for slope technique, curvature technique may be a better choice. By applying the analytical solution of MEIFR in the losing rivers of the Western Route South-to-North Water Transfer Project in China, the MEIFR value via curvature technique is 2.5%-23.7% of the multi-year average annual discharge, while that for slope technique is 11%-105.7%. General conclusions would rely on the more detailed research for all kinds of cross-sections.

A general multi-objective programming model for minimum ecological flow or water level of inland water bodies

Assessment of ecological flow or water level for water bodies is important for the protection of de- graded or degrading ecosystems caused by water shortage in arid regions, and it has become a key issue in water resources planning. In the past several decades, many methods have been proposed to assess ecological flow for rivers and ecological water level for lakes or wetlands. To balance water uses by human and ecosystems, we proposed a general multi-objective programming model to determine minimum ecological flow or water level for inland water bodies, where two objectives are water index for human and habitat index for ecosystems, respectively Using the weighted sum method for multi-objective optimization, minimum ecological flow or water level can be determined from the breakpoint in the water index-habitat index curve, which is similar to the slope method to de- termine minimum ecological flow from wetted perimeter-discharge curve. However, the general multi-objective programming model is superior to the slope method in its physical meaning and calculation method. This model provides a general analysis method for ecological water uses of different inland water bodies, and can be used to define minimum ecological flow or water level by choosing appropriate water and habitat indices. Several com- monly used flow or water level assessment methods were found to be special cases of the general model, including the wetted perimeter method and the multi-objective physical habitat simulation method for ecological river flow, the inundated forest width method for regeneration flow of floodplain forest and the lake surface area method for eco- logical lake level. These methods were applied to determine minimum ecological flow or water level for two repre- sentative rivers and a lake in northern Xinjiang of China, including minimum ecological flow for the Ertix River, minimum regeneration flow for floodplain forest along the midstream of Kaxgar River, and minimum ecological lake level for the Ebinur Lake. The results illustrated the versatility of the general model, and can provide references for water resources planning and ecosystem protection for these rivers and lake.

A new criterion for defining the breakpoint of the wetted perimeter-discharge curve and its application to estimating minimum instream flow requirements

The wetted perimeter method(WPM) is used in hydrology and hydraulics to calculate instream flows.The WPM requires few data.It requires only the values of the wetted perimeter,flow and water level,which can be obtained from the hydrologic stations of the river in question.In addition,the WPM is not limited by the impacts of human activities on the river runoff.Therefore,this method is generally suitable for the current conditions in China.However,the process of applying the WPM involves two key aspects:how to plot the curve describing the relationship between the wetted perimeter and the discharge and how to confirm the breakpoint of the wetted perimeter-discharge curve.The traditional method is to calculate the curvature or the slope of the wetted perimeter-discharge curve to obtain the minimum flow.According to this method,the minimum flow corresponds to the point of maximum curvature or to the point at which the slope of the curve is equal to 1.The wetted perimeter-discharge curve of a natural river is only part of the complete curve.Thus,the instream flow calculated by the traditional method is the minimum or maximum discharge.The new criterion for defining the breakpoint of the wetted perimeter-discharge curve is that the slope at the breakpoint is a relative maximum,the second-largest slope.The discharges at the breakpoints corresponded to the minimum flow levels required to maintain the ecological function of the river.The minimum instream flow requirements(MIFRs) of four typical reaches,Zhuba,Daofu,Ganzi and Zumuzu hydrological stations on the West Course of the First Stage Project of the South-North Water Transfer Project(WCFSPSNWTP),are calculated using an improved wetted perimeter method(IWPM).The results show that the MIFRs of Zhuba,Daofu,Ganzi and Zumuzu are approximately 9.06-14.5 m 3 s-1,20.7-43.5 m3 s-1,38.8-77.2 m 3 s-1 and 40.4-59.5 m 3 s-1,corresponding to 11.7%-33.9%,14.2%-37.6%,12.4%-28.4% and 17.5%-30.2%,respectively of the annual average flow(AAF).These MIFRs can maintain good ecological function in a river according to the criterion furnished by the Tennant method.

The Instream Ecological Water Flow Research at the Lower Reach of Guanting Reservoir on Yongdinghe River,Beijing

作为北京市母亲河的永定河自上个世纪80年代以来三家店以下一直处于断流,河床裸露、河道两岸土地沙化严重,是北京春季沙尘天气的主要沙源之一,由于地下水超采严重,加之无水补给地下水,使得北京西部地区第四纪地下水已经基本枯竭,永定河的生态系统已经受到严重破坏。要想恢复或治理受损的河道生态环境,作为生态系统中最活跃最重要的水分多少要先算清楚。本文采用湿周法计算了永定河官厅水库下游三个控制断面（官厅水库（坝下）、雁翅、卢沟桥）的河道内生态需水流量,计算结果为:官厅水库（坝下）站的河道内流量为3.7m3 s-1。（平水年P=50%,1978年）,占年平均流量的20.7%,雁翅站的河道内流量为4.1m3 s-1（平水年P=50%,1981年）,占年平均流量的20.1%,卢沟桥站的河道内流量为1.3m3 s-1（平水年P=50%,1978年）,占年平均流量的22.1%。若能按照计算的流量来补充河道水量,即可使永定河恢复其基本的生态功能,按照Tennant法的标准,基本能使当地的河道生态系统处于较为良好的状态。