Watershed Health Characterization Using Reliability–Resilience–Vulnerability Conceptual Framework Based on Hydrological Responses
2017
Hazbavi, Zeinab | Sadeghi, Seyed Hamidreza R.
An attempt was made to employ the reliability (Rₑₗ)–resilience (Rₑₛ)–vulnerability (Vᵤₗ) conceptual framework to develop a typical indicator system for quantitative assessment of watershed health. The study aimed to conceptualize and customize the RₑₗRₑₛVᵤₗ framework to watershed health assessment for the Shazand Watershed in Markazi Province, Iran, for the period of 1977–2014. To this end, four easily, reliable, available and accessible criteria viz. standardized precipitation index (SPI), low and high flow discharges (LFD and HFD), and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were selected, and corresponding indices for reliability–resilience–vulnerability (RₑₗRₑₛVᵤₗ) framework were accordingly conceptualized and calculated. The thresholds of 0.1, 0.16 m³ s⁻¹, 12.63 m³ s⁻¹ and 25 mg l⁻¹ day⁻¹ were thus selected for SPI, LFD, HFD and SSC, respectively. The results showed a decreasing trend in Rₑₗ and Rₑₛ, and an increasing trend in Vᵤₗ for SPI and LFD in the Shazand Watershed. The results further showed an increasing trend in Rₑₗ, and a decreasing trend in Vᵤₗ for HFD and SSC. A decreasing trend was ultimately recognized in watershed health index for all criteria except SSC. Additionally, the integrated hydrological watershed health index of 0.16 ± 0.11 obtained from the geometric mean of the RₑₗRₑₛVᵤₗ framework indices also showed a decreasing trend for the Shazand Watershed health during the study period. The results of the present initiative study can be considered as a baseline by decision makers and managers to effectively adjust watershed management strategies to handle land degradation issues in the area. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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