Improving Indicators of Hydrological Alteration in Regulated and Complex Water Resources Systems: A Case Study in the Duero River Basin

Assessing the health of hydrological systems is vital for the conservation of river ecosystems. The indicators of hydrologic alteration are among the most widely used parameters. They have been traditionally assessed at the scale of river reaches. However, the use of such indicators at the basin scale is relevant for water resource management since there is an urgent need to meet environmental objectives to mitigate the effects of present and future climatic conditions. This work proposes a methodology to estimate the indicators of hydrological alteration at the basin scale in regulated systems based on simulations with a water allocation model. The methodology is illustrated through a case study in the Iberian Peninsula (the Duero River basin), where different minimum flow scenarios were defined, assessing their effects on both the hydrological alteration and the demand guarantees. The results indicate that it is possible to improve the hydrological status of some subsystems of the basin without affecting the water demand supplies. Thus, the methodology presented in this work will help decision makers to optimize water management while improving the hydrological status of the river basins.

Automated summary

Assessing the health of hydrological systems is crucial for the conservation of river ecosystems, with indicators of hydrologic alteration being widely used parameters. This study proposes a methodology to estimate these indicators at the basin scale in regulated systems, illustrated through a case study in the Duero River basin. The results show the possibility of improving the hydrological status of certain subsystems without affecting water demand supplies, aiding decision makers in optimizing water management and enhancing river basins' hydrological conditions.