Author(s): Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy; Joo-Cheol Kim; Kwansue Jung
Linked Author(s): Kwansue Jung
Keywords: Ecological flow rate; Flow duration; EMC; GEFC and PHABSIM
Abstract: Rivers, which are critical to social and economic growth of the countries, have been severely impacted by climate change and human activities. As a contributor to preservation of natural river ecosystem, this study provides new technique and procedures via analyzing flow duration in a river basin. The process is carried out by applying a method to estimate environmental flow developed by the International Water Management Institute, and simulate the effects of runoff characteristics to a river and frequently changes of flow under basin development on aquatic ecosystem. A water balance analysis based upon the water requirements in the river basin is used to estimate natural flow in the Day river basin, a tributary of Red River. Afterwards, flow duration curves are analyzed and assessed according to EMCs based upon natural flow of the river. Additionally, the typical species of fishes in the river are determined to present the properties of habitats making favorable conditions for estimating allowable ecological discharge. For this study, PHABSIM (Physical Habitat Simulation System) is used to project the relations between flow discharge and Weighted Usable Area (WUA), and EMCs consistent with flow duration curves along with in-stream flow are evaluated. The results from this study are seen as a fundamental data sources in making plan helping water practitioners monitor and manage aquatic ecosystems in the river system efficiently.
Year: 2014