Assessing and Optimizing Ecological Flow Rates for the Habitat of Zacco platypus in the Tan River
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript estimates seasonal optimal ecological flow rates in the Tan River (South Korea), using the Physical Habitat Simulation System and weighted usable area of a fish species that is representative for this aquatic habitat. The study is an interesting example of the assessment of ecological perturbations that can be induced by human activities and climatic changes.
In general, the manuscript is clearly organized and written. I suggest its publication on WATER after to have checked if the following few specific points can be improved:
Lines 14-15: river ecosystems should be protected to maintain their ecological functions and the habitats of aquatic organisms.
Line 36: … hydraulic characteristics and sedimentation patterns have affected the physical conditions and …
Line 203: … in 2015 …
Lines 294-295: Please, check the meaning of this sentence: In this study, a flow measurement site was selected to fix flow boundary conditions in the HEC-RAS dataset that is assimilated in PHABSIM model.
Lines: 432-433: … which has been identified to be vulnerable with respect to the ecological health assessment.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageA minor editing of English language might improve the manuscript.
Author Response
Manuscript Number: water-3166908
Assessing and Optimizing Ecological Flow Rates for the Habitat of Zacco platypus in the Tan River
# Reviewer: 1
Comments to the Author
This manuscript estimates seasonal optimal ecological flow rates in the Tan River (South Korea), using the Physical Habitat Simulation System and weighted usable area of a fish species that is representative for this aquatic habitat. The study is an interesting example of the assessment of ecological perturbations that can be induced by human activities and climatic changes. In general, the manuscript is clearly organized and written. I suggest its publication on WATER after to have checked if the following few specific points can be improved:
Response to the comments to the Author
- Thank you for your helpful comments, which improved the manuscript. We've addressed all points in the revised version as outlined below:
Q1. Lines 14-15: river ecosystems should be protected to maintain their ecological functions and the habitats of aquatic organisms.
- Thank you for your comment.
- The content in the abstract (L. 13-15) was unclear, so it has been revised and supplemented as follows.
(Before)
As rivers face growing environmental challenges due to climate change and construction of arti-ficial structures, river ecosystems should be improved to maintain the ecological functions of rivers and preserve the habitats of aquatic organisms
(After)
(L. 13-15) As rivers face growing environmental challenges due to climate change and the construction of artificial structures, it is essential to improve river ecosystems to maintain their ecological functions and preserve the health of aquatic habitats.
Q2. Line 36: … hydraulic characteristics and sedimentation patterns have affected the physical conditions and …
- Thank you for your comment.
- Based on your comment, we have specifically addressed and supplemented which hydraulic characteristics affect the physical features and health of the river.
(Before)
Consequently, erosion and changes in hydraulic phenomena and sedimentation patterns have affected the physical characteristics and surrounding vegetation of the rivers
(After)
(L. 35-38) Consequently, erosion and changes in hydraulic phenomena and sedimentation patterns have affected the physical characteristics (e.g., flow velocity, bed structure, water depth, and discharge) and surrounding vegetation of the rivers.
Q3. Line 203: … in2015 …
- Thank you for your comment. We corrected the spacing by changing "In2015" to "in 2015" and reviewed the entire text for typos and spacing errors, making necessary corrections.
Q4. check the meaning of sentences in lines 294-295.
- Thank you for your comment. We have reviewed the meaning of sentences in Line 294-295 and revised it as flows.
(Before)
In this study, , a flow measurement site, were subjected to flow analysis for the application of flow boundary conditions in the HEC-RAS input data and PHABSIM
(After)
(L. 291-293) In this study, flow analysis was conducted using the measured flow values at the flow measurement points to apply the flow boundary conditions in PHABSIM and generate input data for HEC-RAS.
Q5. Lines: 432-433: … which has been identified to be vulnerable with respect to the ecological health assessment.
- Thank you for your comment. To ensure clearer explanation of the conclusion, we have revised it as follows.
(Before)
This study was conducted to assess the health of the aquatic ecosystem at the Daewang Bridge site on the lower reaches of the Tan River, which has been identified as vulnerable to the ecological health of the river.
(After)
(L. 427-429) This study was conducted to assess the health of the aquatic ecosystem at the Daewang Bridge site on the lower reaches of the Tan Stream, which has been identified as a vulnerable point for aquatic ecosystem health.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsMy only significant concerns are in the two sections below:
Since the 1970s, research on ecological habitat interpretation and environmental flow 96 estimation for river habitat conservation has been conducted internationally. Currently, 97 Water 2024, 16, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 17 the United States of America has 19 cases where various hydraulic methods have been 98 applied, representing 83% of the 23 methods developed worldwide.
And also:
In the 1960s, research on the ecological dynamics of stream environments began in 165 the USA with the population of Salmo trutta. Subsequently, there has been a growing in-166 terest in maintaining stream flows to preserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the late 167 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established the Cooperative Instream Flow Service 168 Group and developed the IFIM[26] to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers.In the 1960s, research on the ecological dynamics of stream environments began in 165 the USA with the population of Salmo trutta. Subsequently, there has been a growing in-166 terest in maintaining stream flows to preserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the late 167 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established the Cooperative Instream Flow Service 168 Group and developed the IFIM[26] to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the 1960s, research on the ecological dynamics of stream environments began in 165 the USA with the population of Salmo trutta. Subsequently, there has been a growing in-166 terest in maintaining stream flows to preserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the late 167 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established the Cooperative Instream Flow Service 168 Group and developed the IFIM[26] to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the 1960s, research on the ecological dynamics of stream environments began in 165 the USA with the population of Salmo trutta. Subsequently, there has been a growing in-166 terest in maintaining stream flows to preserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the late 167 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established the Cooperative Instream Flow Service 168 Group and developed the IFIM[26] to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers.
I'm not sure that these are strictly correct as they imply that the North American studies are the only ones globally - or at least the most significant. Considerable work was also done in Europe and the UK from the 1960s onwards - on compensation water, on fish populations, and on river remediation - and so I think this needs to be reflected in your review of context etc.
Author Response
Manuscript Number: water-3166908
Assessing and Optimizing Ecological Flow Rates for the Habitat of Zacco platypus in the Tan River
# Reviewer: 2
Comments to the Author
My only significant concerns are in the two sections below:
Q1) Since the 1970s, research on ecological habitat interpretation and environmental flow 96 estimation for river habitat conservation has been conducted internationally. Currently, the United States of America has 19 cases where various hydraulic methods have been 98 applied, representing 83% of the 23 methods developed worldwide.
Q2) In the 1960s, research on the ecological dynamics of stream environments began in the USA with the population of Salmo trutta. Subsequently, there has been a growing interest in maintaining stream flows to preserve aquatic organisms in rivers. In the late 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established the Cooperative Instream Flow Service Group and developed the IFIM[26] to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers.
I'm not sure that these are strictly correct as they imply that the North American studies are the only ones globally - or at least the most significant. Considerable work was also done in Europe and the UK from the 1960s onwards - on compensation water, on fish populations, and on river remediation - and so I think this needs to be reflected in your review of context etc.
Response to the comments to the Author
- Thank you for your helpful comments, which improved the manuscript. We've addressed all points in the revised version as outlined below:
A1) L. 97-101
Since the 1970s, research on ecological habitat interpretation and environmental flow estimation for river habitat conservation has been conducted internationally. Currently, the PHABSIM, which is a one-dimensional model developed by the United States Geological Survey, and River2D, which is a two-dimensional model developed by the University of Alberta in Canada, are the most prominent among the commonly used physical habitat models worldwide [16–20].
A2) L. 165-167
In this study, the ecological flow was estimated using the PHABSIM model. The PHABSIM is a one-dimensional physical habitat model based on the IFIM[26], which was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve aquatic organisms in rivers.
