Determination of River Ecological Flow Thresholds and Development of Early Warning Programs Based on Coupled Multiple Hydrological Methods

In order to safeguard the health of river ecosystems and maintain ecological balance, it is essential to rationally allocate water resources. This study utilized continuous runoff data from 1967 to 2020 at the Zhouqu Hydrological Station on the Bailong River. Five hydrological methods, tailored to the hydrological characteristics of the Zhouqu hydrological cross-section, were employed. These methods included the improved dynamic calculation method, the NGPRP method, the improved monthly frequency computation method, the improved RVA method, and the Tennant method. Ecological flow calculations were conducted to determine the ecological flow, with analysis carried out through the degree of satisfaction, economic benefits, and the nonlinear fitting of the GCAS model. We established an ecological flow threshold and early warning program for this specific hydrological cross-section. Ecological flow values calculated using different methods for each month of the year were compared. The improved RVA method and Tennant method resulted in small values ranging from 4.05 to 36.40 m³/s and 7.65 to 22.94 m³/s, respectively, with high satisfaction levels and economic benefits, but not conducive to ecologically sound development. In contrast, the dynamic calculation method, NGPRP method, and improved monthly frequency calculation method yielded larger ecological flow values in the ranges of 21.79–97.02 m³/s, 23.90–137.00 m³/s, and 28.50–126.00 m³/s, respectively, with poor fulfillment and economic benefits. Ecological flow thresholds were determined using the GCAS model, with values ranging from 16.72 to 114.58 m³/s during the abundant water period and from 5.03 to 63.63 m³/s during the dry water period. A three-level ecological warning system was proposed based on these thresholds, with the orange warning level indicating optimal sustainable development capacity for the Zhouqu Hydrological Station. This study provides valuable insights into the scientific management of water resources in the Bailong River Basin to ensure ecological security and promote sustainable development.