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Hydrology
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Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources
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Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources

A special issue of Hydrology (ISSN 2306-5338). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecohydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 37403

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amartya K. Saha

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
Ecohydrologist and Instrumentation Specialist, Archbold Biological Station, 300 Buck Island Ranch Rd, Lake Placid, FL 33852, USA
Interests: aquatic ecology; estuarine ecohydrology; nutrient cycling; wetland ecology; stream ecology; hydrological budgets; restoration ecology; ecohydrological monitoring; watershed hydrology; land cover change; water resources management; environmental engineering; climate change and water resources vulnerability
Dr. Maria C. Donoso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Environment, Director for International Programs, UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Security, Faculty Fellow, Advance Women, Equity and Diversity, Research Associate Professor, College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, AC1-208, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
Interests: integrated Water resources management; global water security; transboundary water cooperation; gender and water; water policy development; air-sea-land interaction processes; climate change and variability impacts on the natural environment (with main interest in water resources) and society
Dr. Shimelis G. Setegn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Senior Scientist, Coastal Ecosystem Section, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
Interests: hydrological modelling; public health, water and sanitation; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hydrology; water quality modelling; sustainable water management; climate change and water resources management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is essential for all life. Aquatic and riparian ecosystems have been regulating water flow and maintaining water quality for millennia, and also provide mankind with fisheries, wildlife and recreation. However, over the past half a century, the rapidly escalating human demand for water is exerting tremendous pressure on aquatic ecosystems, largely through the over-extraction of water, altered flow regimes, channelization of rivers and untreated wastewater discharges. This is resulting in the degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem services provided to mankind. In order to ensure water resources are managed sustainably, and water security is attained in the future, it is imperative to identify, protect and restore the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, from headwater streams and wetlands to lakes and rivers all the way downstream to estuaries. Unfortunately, in much of the world, there is a dearth of scientific publications on managing and/or restoring aquatic ecosystems in the context of water resources management. Furthermore, the lack of access to this existing literature by water managers, policymakers and other stakeholders is a related issue, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America + Caribbean.

This Special Issue titled “Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources” aims to bring together examples from around the world that reconcile the seemingly opposite objectives of maintaining aquatic ecosystems and development of water resources. The first part of the Special Issue will summarize the current understanding of aquatic ecosystem–water linkages, such as how water flow and quality affects biodiversity, and the physical and biogeochemical ecosystem processes that regulate downstream flow and water quality. The second part of the Special Issue will highlight recent experiences describing management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems in the context of integrated water resource management. Examples can span from technical aspects such as the development of environmental flows for rivers, water monitoring (groundwater, biomonitoring of water quality, etc.), river channel restoration and constructed wetlands for urban wastewater, to integrated water resources management and policy development for regional water security.

It is hoped that this Special Issue will add to knowledge references for water management agencies, research institutions and other stakeholders in order to ensure water security and healthy aquatic ecosystems. We thus call upon the global community of environmental scientists and water resource management professionals to share their experiences and submit articles to the Special Issue, thereby contributing to address one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.

Dr. Amartya K. Saha
Dr. Maria C. Donoso
Dr. Shimelis G. Setegn
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Hydrology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquatic ecosystems
  • biodiversity
  • water quality
  • water security
  • water resources
  • ecohydrology
  • monitoring
  • environmental flows
  • integrated water resources management
  • sustainability

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 156 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue on Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources
by Amartya K. Saha
Hydrology 2023, 10(6), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10060119 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Water is essential for all life, as the age-old universal adage holds[...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)

Research

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32 pages, 6796 KiB  
Article
Determination of Environmental Flows in Data-Poor Estuaries—Wami River Estuary in Saadani National Park, Tanzania
by Amartya K. Saha, Japhet Kashaigili, Fredrick Mashingia, Halima Kiwango, Mercy Asha Mohamed, Michael Kimaro, Mathias Msafiri Igulu, Patroba Matiku, Rosemary Masikini, Rashid Tamatamah, Ismail Omary, Tumaini Magesa, Pendo Hyera, Roman Evarist and Maria C. Donoso
Hydrology 2023, 10(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10020033 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2011
Abstract
Land use changes and mounting water demands reduce freshwater inflows into estuaries, impairing estuarine ecosystems and accelerating coastal seawater intrusion. However, determining minimum river inflows for management guidelines is hampered by a lack of ecosystem-flow link data. This study describes the development of [...] Read more.
Land use changes and mounting water demands reduce freshwater inflows into estuaries, impairing estuarine ecosystems and accelerating coastal seawater intrusion. However, determining minimum river inflows for management guidelines is hampered by a lack of ecosystem-flow link data. This study describes the development of freshwater inflow guidelines for the Wami Estuary, combining scarce river flow data, hydrological modeling, inferring natural salinity regime from vegetation zonation and investigating freshwater requirements of people/wildlife. By adopting the Building Blocks Methodology, a detailed Environmental Flows Assessment was performed to know the minimum water depth/quality seasonal requirements for vegetation, terrestrial/aquatic wildlife and human communities. Water depth requirements were assessed for drought and normal rainfall years; corresponding discharges were obtained by a hydrological model (HEC-RAS) developed for the river channel upstream of estuary. Recommended flows were well within historically occurring flows. However, given the rapidly increasing water demand coupled with reduction in basin water storage due to deforestation/wetland loss, it is critical to ensure these minimum flows are present, without which essential ecosystem services (fisheries, water quality, mangrove forest resources and wildlife/tourism) will be jeopardized. The EFA process is described in painstaking detail to provide a reference for undertaking similar studies in data-poor regions worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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24 pages, 5096 KiB  
Article
Determination of Recharge Areas That Supply Decades Old Groundwater to Creeks Inhabited by the Threatened Okaloosa Darter
by James E. Landmeyer, W. Scott McBride and William B. Tate
Hydrology 2022, 9(5), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9050069 - 25 Apr 2022
Viewed by 1951
Abstract
The Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) is a diminutive, perch-like, benthic fish that inhabits only six small, clear, and shallow creek systems that flow almost entirely within Eglin Air Force Base in the panhandle of northwest Florida. Listed as Endangered by the [...] Read more.
The Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) is a diminutive, perch-like, benthic fish that inhabits only six small, clear, and shallow creek systems that flow almost entirely within Eglin Air Force Base in the panhandle of northwest Florida. Listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1973, improvements in erosion control and habitat restoration led to the Okaloosa darter being downlisted from Endangered to Threatened in 2011. However, the long-term management of the species is hampered by the lack of knowledge of the spatial extent of the recharge areas that ultimately support creek flow through groundwater discharge. To address this lack of data, we collected groundwater samples from the sand and gravel aquifer beneath 11 headwater and 11 downgradient sites across six creek basins during February and December 2020. The groundwater samples were collected from 1 to 1.2 m beneath the creek bottom. Concentrations of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) were analyzed and used to calculate groundwater age (residence time), and indicated that at the 11 headwater sites, recharge occurred between 11 and 28 years ago. Groundwater ages in downgradient parts of the same creeks indicated that recharge occurred between 5 and 25 years ago. When combined with representative values of hydraulic conductivity for the sand and gravel aquifer, the ages reveal that the extent of the maximum recharge distance from the sampling sites ranged from about 222 to 2011 m from the creeks. This new information can be used by natural resource managers as additional evidence to support the USFWS Recovery Plan and proposed delisting of the Okaloosa darter from the Endangered Species List. Moreover, these results may also be useful to fisheries biologists to incorporate groundwater inputs to facilitate fisheries management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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27 pages, 5765 KiB  
Article
Flood-Pulse Variability and Climate Change Effects Increase Uncertainty in Fish Yields: Revisiting Narratives of Declining Fish Catches in India’s Ganga River
by Nachiket Kelkar, Rohan Arthur, Subhasis Dey and Jagdish Krishnaswamy
Hydrology 2022, 9(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9040053 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4184
Abstract
River-floodplains support a significant number of small-scale capture fisheries despite having undergone degradation due to human modification of river flows by dams, pollution, and climate change. River fish production is underpinned by the annual flood-pulse and associated environmental changes that act as cues [...] Read more.
River-floodplains support a significant number of small-scale capture fisheries despite having undergone degradation due to human modification of river flows by dams, pollution, and climate change. River fish production is underpinned by the annual flood-pulse and associated environmental changes that act as cues for spawning and dispersal for most species. However, studies on fish stock declines have focused more on overfishing than on hydroclimatic variability. Therefore, understanding how changes in flood-pulse variability influence fishing effort and yields is critical to inform adaptive fisheries’ management. We investigated hydroclimatic factors driving flood-pulse variability and fish catch–effort dynamics in India’s Ganga River over two decades (2000–2020). We compiled fishers’ narratives of changing fish catches through semi-structured interviews to compare them with our observed trends. Flood amplitude showed increasing variability, longer duration, and earlier rise timings, linked to La Niña and El Niño phases. Catches per unit effort were correlated with total yield and effort but did not decline as fishers thought, despite overall declines in yield over time. Hydroclimatic variability was a more significant driver of changing yields than local fishing pressure. Rising uncertainty in fisheries’ production, in response to increasing flood-pulse variability and altered flows in the Gangetic Plains, may be affecting fishing behaviour and underlying resource conflicts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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16 pages, 1472 KiB  
Article
Land-Based Impact of Nutrient Loads and Eutrophication on an Ancient Mediterranean Natural Lake
by Bachisio Mario Padedda, Antonella Lugliè, Giuseppina Grazia Lai, Filippo Giadrossich, Cecilia Teodora Satta and Silvia Pulina
Hydrology 2022, 9(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9010007 - 29 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2381
Abstract
In water management plans, all human impacts on the aquatic environment are quantified and evaluated. For this purpose, lake-related assessment methods of watersheds are needed. The aim of this study is to present the environmental condition along the watershed–lake continuum of Lake Baratz, [...] Read more.
In water management plans, all human impacts on the aquatic environment are quantified and evaluated. For this purpose, lake-related assessment methods of watersheds are needed. The aim of this study is to present the environmental condition along the watershed–lake continuum of Lake Baratz, located in the northeastern part of Sardinia. We provide a method to evaluate the impact of a small watershed area on the trophic state of this ancient Mediterranean natural lake. This study demonstrates the potentialities of coupling simple land structure-based models with empirical ones, allowing one to hierarchize, interpret, and predict the relationships among the watershed ecological unity and lake trophic conditions at multiple spatial and temporal scales. It also demonstrates how the impact of single and interacting nutrient stressors can have a different impact on the trophic status which, in particular, applies to autotrophs, constituting a key response in the ecosystem. We suggest that the stressor hierarchy should be considered as a way of prioritizing actions in the cost-effective implementation of conservation and management plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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9 pages, 1808 KiB  
Communication
WFD Ecological Quality Indicators Are Poorly Correlated with Water Levels in River Catchments in Tuscany (Italy)
by Chiara Arrighi, Isabella Bonamini, Cristina Simoncini, Stefano Bartalesi and Fabio Castelli
Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040185 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2122
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires European countries to achieve a good ecological status of surface water bodies and demands that River District Authorities define ecological flows consistently. Nevertheless, the relationship between ecological and hydrological indicators is not fully understood and not straightforward [...] Read more.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires European countries to achieve a good ecological status of surface water bodies and demands that River District Authorities define ecological flows consistently. Nevertheless, the relationship between ecological and hydrological indicators is not fully understood and not straightforward to apply because ecological and hydrological indicators are monitored by different institutions, with different timings and purposes. This work examines the correlation between a set of ecological indicators monitored by environmental agencies (STAR-ICMi, LIMeco, IBMR, and TDI) and water levels with assigned durations monitored by the hydrologic service in Tuscany (central Italy). Reference water levels are derived from stage-duration curves obtained by the statistical analysis of daily levels in the same year of ecological sampling. The two datasets are paired through a geospatial association for the same river reach and the correlation is measured through Pearson’s r. The results show poor correlation (r between −0.33 and −0.42) between ecological indicators and hydrologic variables, confirming the findings observed in other Italian catchments with different hydrologic regimes, climate, and anthropogenic pressures. Nevertheless, the negative correlations show a decreasing water quality with water depths, i.e., in the lower part of the catchments more affected by anthropogenic pressures. These findings suggests that the determination of ecological flows with a purely hydrological approach is not sufficient for achieving WFD objectives in the study area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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20 pages, 5217 KiB  
Article
Decision Support Tools for River Restoration: The Implementation of the “River Habitat Survey” Methodology on the River Selho (Guimarães Municipality, Northwest Portugal)
by Francisco Costa and António Vieira
Hydrology 2021, 8(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8020069 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3275
Abstract
The river habitat survey (RHS) system is a method used to assess the physical features and quality of rivers, which was developed to assist in the conservation and recovery of riverside habitats. The RHS takes into account the need to characterize areas of [...] Read more.
The river habitat survey (RHS) system is a method used to assess the physical features and quality of rivers, which was developed to assist in the conservation and recovery of riverside habitats. The RHS takes into account the need to characterize areas of intervention from a hydromorphological point of view, in order to introduce corrective measures aimed at restoring degraded sections and habitats, and increasing local biodiversity. In this paper, we present the results obtained from the application of the RHS methodology to the River Selho, in the municipality of Guimarães (Portugal). The transects that we defined were strongly influenced by anthropic actions that have modified the riverside habitats, the artificialization of the river channel, and the urban occupation of the banks. Taking into account the results, we can point out the main problems that currently affect the hydromorphological quality of the transects analyzed in the River Selho, as well as identify the originating factors: the excessive silting of the watercourse; morphometric changes, with an emphasis on the narrowing and modification of the channel and the banks; as well as the massive destruction of the riparian zone. This study shows that the application of the RHS methodology is a useful tool for the management of degraded riverside areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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16 pages, 4338 KiB  
Article
Pressures and Status of the Riparian Vegetation in Greek Rivers: Overview and Preliminary Assessment
by Anna Latsiou, Theodora Kouvarda, Konstantinos Stefanidis, George Papaioannou, Konstantinos Gritzalis and Elias Dimitriou
Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010055 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2742
Abstract
Riparian zones play an important role in the ecological stability of rivers. In particular, the quality of the riparian vegetation is a significant component of the hydromorphological status. In Europe, the QBR index (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera) and the River Habitat Survey [...] Read more.
Riparian zones play an important role in the ecological stability of rivers. In particular, the quality of the riparian vegetation is a significant component of the hydromorphological status. In Europe, the QBR index (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera) and the River Habitat Survey (RHS) are commonly used for the qualitative assessment of the riparian vegetation. In this study, we estimated the QBR index and the Riparian Quality index, which is derived from the RHS method, for 123 river reaches of the National Monitoring Network of Greece. Our field work included the completion of RHS and QBR protocols, as well as the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The aim of this study is to assess the riparian vegetation status and to identify linkages with the dominant land uses within the catchment. Correlation analysis was used to identify the relationships between hydromorphological alterations and the degradation of the riparian vegetation, as well as their connection to land uses in the catchment area. Our results highlighted severe modifications of the riparian vegetation for the majority of the studied reaches. We also showed a differentiation of the QBR with respect to changes in the altitude and the land uses in the catchment area. Overall QBR reflects the variation in the riparian vegetation quality better than RQI. Our findings constitute an assessment of the status of the riparian zones in Greek rivers and set the basis for further research for the development of new and effective tools for a rapid quality assessment of the riparian zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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16 pages, 6785 KiB  
Article
Residence Time Analysis in the Albufera of Valencia, a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon, Spain
by Juan Soria, Lucía Vera-Herrera, Sara Calvo, Susana Romo, Eduardo Vicente, María Sahuquillo and Xavier Sòria-Perpinyà
Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010037 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3213
Abstract
The Albufera of Valencia is a coastal lagoon located in the western area of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Iberian Peninsula. It has an area of 23.1 km2 and an average depth of only 1 m, with a maximum depth of 1.6 [...] Read more.
The Albufera of Valencia is a coastal lagoon located in the western area of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Iberian Peninsula. It has an area of 23.1 km2 and an average depth of only 1 m, with a maximum depth of 1.6 m. This lagoon is the remnants of an original and more extensive wetland of about 220 km2 which is now mostly dedicated to rice cultivation. Surface water is supplied through several main and many secondary canals for a total of 64 water entry points and three exit points to the sea. It is difficult to evaluate the residence time due to the lack of reliable measurements of the inflow or outflow, as well as continuous measurements. Between 1988 and 2018, several procedures were used, the results of which are outlined in this document. Overall, a decrease in the inflow during these thirty years was observed and, therefore, it can be concluded that the residence time is increasing. There is a temporal variation during the year due to rainfall and cultivation periods. Likewise, the results found that the natural hydrological zoning of the lagoon causes a spatial heterogeneity with small Northern areas with low residence time of 4.7 days, almost on a weekly basis and large Western extensions with high residence time of 222.9 days. It is impossible to know this information if individual flow measurements are not taken from each of the main watercourses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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25 pages, 6898 KiB  
Article
A Spatially Distributed, Physically-Based Modeling Approach for Estimating Agricultural Nitrate Leaching to Groundwater
by Giovanna De Filippis, Laura Ercoli and Rudy Rossetto
Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010008 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3494
Abstract
Nitrogen-nitrate, while being fundamental for crop production, is of particular concern in the agricultural sector, as it can easily leach to the water table, worsening groundwater quality. Numerical models and Geographic Information System may support the estimation of nitrate leaching rates in space [...] Read more.
Nitrogen-nitrate, while being fundamental for crop production, is of particular concern in the agricultural sector, as it can easily leach to the water table, worsening groundwater quality. Numerical models and Geographic Information System may support the estimation of nitrate leaching rates in space and time, to support sustainable agricultural management practices. In this paper, we present a module for the simulation of the processes involved in the nitrogen cycle in the unsaturated zone, including nitrate leaching. This module was developed taking steps from the ANIMO and EPIC model frameworks and coupled to the hydrological models integrated within the FREEWAT platform. As such, the nitrogen cycle module was then included in the FREEWAT platform. The developed module and the coupling approach were tested using a simple synthetic application, where we simulated nitrate leaching through the unsaturated zone for a sunflower crop irrigated district during a dry year. The results of the simulation allow the estimation of daily nitrate concentration values at the water table. These spatially distributed values may then be further used as input concentration in models for simulating solute transport in aquifers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

20 pages, 4981 KiB  
Review
Hydrology and Cranes (Grus grus) Attraction Partnership in the Management of the Hula Valley—Lake Kinneret Landscape
by Moshe Gophen
Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030114 - 5 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
The Hula Valley in northern Israel was partly covered by swamps and a shallow lake. The entire valley was drained and converted for agricultural cultivation. Later, an additional soil reclamation operation was implemented, including eco-tourism. From the early 1990s, winter migratory cranes have [...] Read more.
The Hula Valley in northern Israel was partly covered by swamps and a shallow lake. The entire valley was drained and converted for agricultural cultivation. Later, an additional soil reclamation operation was implemented, including eco-tourism. From the early 1990s, winter migratory cranes have attracted visitors, thus supporting the hydrological management of the entire valley that protects the downstream Lake Kinneret. It was documented that these birds have a minor impact on phosphorus pollution, but severely damaged agricultural crops are protected by mild deportation and daily, short, periodical corn seed feeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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12 pages, 534 KiB  
Review
A Review of Coupled Hydrologic-Hydraulic Models for Floodplain Assessments in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Floodplain Wetland Management
by Innocent C. Chomba, Kawawa E. Banda, Hessel C. Winsemius, Machaya J. Chomba, Mulema Mataa, Victoria Ngwenya, Henry M. Sichingabula, Imasiku A. Nyambe and Bruce Ellender
Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010044 - 11 Mar 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4439
Abstract
Floodplain wetlands are a fundamental part of the African continent’s ecosystem and serve as habitat for fish and wildlife species, biodiversity, and micro-organisms that support life. It is generally recognised that wetlands are and remain fragile ecosystems that should be subject to sustainable [...] Read more.
Floodplain wetlands are a fundamental part of the African continent’s ecosystem and serve as habitat for fish and wildlife species, biodiversity, and micro-organisms that support life. It is generally recognised that wetlands are and remain fragile ecosystems that should be subject to sustainable conservation and management through the use of sustainable tools. In this paper, we propose a synthesis of the state of art concerning coupled hydrologic and hydraulic models for floodplains assessments in Africa. Case studies reviewed in this paper have pointed out the potential of applying coupled hydrologic and hydraulic models and the opportunities present to be used in Africa especially for data scarce and large basin for floodplain assessments through the use of available open access models, coupling frameworks and remotely sensed datasets. To our knowledge this is the first case study review of this kind on this topic. A Hydrological model coupled with Hydraulic Model of the floodplain provides improvements in floodplain model simulations and hence better information for floodplain management. Consequently, this would lead to improved decision-making and planning of adaption and mitigation measures for sound floodplain wetland management plans and programmes especially with the advent of climate change and variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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Other

16 pages, 6032 KiB  
Case Report
The Role of Hydrodynamics on the Sustainable Mussels’ Culture Activity. The Case of the Chalastra Basin (NW Gulf of Thessaloniki)
by Chrysi A. Papadimitriou, Yiannis G. Savvidis, Sofia Galinou-Mitsoudi and Amalia Moriki
Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030105 - 19 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2316
Abstract
In line with the framework of strategic guidelines for marine aquacultures, mussel cultures have to be operated in Areas of Organized Aquaculture Development (AOAD). Forty per cent of the national mussel culture production, which is based in Chalastra (NW Gulf of Thessaloniki, part [...] Read more.
In line with the framework of strategic guidelines for marine aquacultures, mussel cultures have to be operated in Areas of Organized Aquaculture Development (AOAD). Forty per cent of the national mussel culture production, which is based in Chalastra (NW Gulf of Thessaloniki, part of the Thermaikos Gulf), uses pole and longline systems. Due to legislative changes, both farmers and the authorities are in the process of reforming the existing units and planning processes based on the principles of sustainability, as defined in AOAD. The aim of this study is to estimate the appropriate orientation lines on which the mussel socks are to be placed in the mussel culturing units, in relation to the direction of sea currents for optimum water circulation in AOAD. The hydro-dynamics of the Chalastra basin is mainly wind driven and affected by prevailing northerly and southerly winds during winter and summer periods, respectively. When placed perpendicular to sea currents, the socks in the mussel production lines form an obstacle. Thus, the appropriate orientation of pole and longline units based on natural current directions can comprise a useful tool for sustainable mussel cultures. The benefits arising from the application of the proposed scheme are twofold: (a) productivity through the appropriate circulation and regeneration of nutrients can be maximized and (b) the environmental impacts of mussel culture activity can be minimized, as byproducts can more easily be dispersed of and biodegraded. In the present study, two basic schemes are proposed: (a) the division of AOAD is being researched into three sub-areas for pole and long-line units respectively and (b) the placement of the shortest possible length of production lines parallel to sea currents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources)
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