Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula

River regulation by dams modifies flow regimes, interrupts the transfer of sediment through channel networks, and alters downstream bed dynamics, altogether affecting channel form and processes. So far, most studies on the geomorphic impacts of dams are restricted to single rivers, or even single ri...

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Autores: Lobera, Gemma, Besné, Pedro, Vericat, Damiá, López-Tarazón, José Antonio, Tena, Álvaro, Aristi De La Hoz, Ibon, Díez López, José Ramón, Ibisate González de Matauco, Askoa, Larrañaga Arrizabalaga, Aitor, Elosegi Irurtia, Arturo, Batalla, Ramón
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/75920
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75920
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Geomorphic Status
Flow regulation
Dams
Iberian rivers
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spelling Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian PeninsulaLobera, GemmaBesné, PedroVericat, DamiáLópez-Tarazón, José AntonioTena, ÁlvaroAristi De La Hoz, IbonDíez López, José RamónIbisate González de Matauco, AskoaLarrañaga Arrizabalaga, AitorElosegi Irurtia, ArturoBatalla, RamónGeomorphic StatusFlow regulationDamsIberian riversRiver regulation by dams modifies flow regimes, interrupts the transfer of sediment through channel networks, and alters downstream bed dynamics, altogether affecting channel form and processes. So far, most studies on the geomorphic impacts of dams are restricted to single rivers, or even single river stretches. In this paper we analyse the geomorphic status of 74 river sites distributed across four large basins in the Iberian Peninsula (i.e. 47 sites located downstream of dams). For this purpose, we combine field data with hydrological data available from water agencies, and analyse historical (1970) and current aerial photographs. In particular, we have developed a Geomorphic Status (GS) index that allows us to assess the physical structure of a given channel reach and its change through time. The GS encompasses a determination of changes in sedimentary units, sediment availability, bar stability and channel flow capacity. Sites are statistically grouped in four clusters based on contrasted physical and climate characteristics. Results emphasise that regulation changes river's flow regime with a generalized reduction of the magnitude and frequency of floods (thus flow competence). This, in addition to the decrease downstream sediment supply, results in the loss of active bars as they are encroached by vegetation, to the point that only reaches with little or no regulation maintain exposed sedimentary deposits. The GS of regulated river reaches is negatively correlated with magnitude of the impoundment (regulation). Heavily impacted reaches present channel stabilization and, in contrast to the hydrological response, the distance and number of tributaries do not reverse the geomorphic impact of the dams. Stabilization limits river dynamics and may contribute to the environmental degradation of the fluvial ecosystem. Overall, results describe the degree of geomorphological alteration experienced by representative Iberian rivers mostly because of regulation, challenging the successful long-term implementation of river basin management programmes.This research has been carried out within the framework of the Consolider Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065 Project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Damià Vericat is in receipt of a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship (RYC-2010-06264) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The authors acknowledge the support from the Economy and Knowledge Department of the Catalan Government through the Consolidated Research Group 2014 SGR 645 (RIUS — Fluvial Dynamics Research Group).Elsevier202520252014info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10810/75920reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigacióninstname:Universidad del País VascoIngléshttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.058info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/© 2014 Elsevier under CC BY-NC-ND licenseoai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/759202026-06-18T09:23:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
title Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
spellingShingle Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
Lobera, Gemma
Geomorphic Status
Flow regulation
Dams
Iberian rivers
title_short Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
title_full Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
title_fullStr Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
title_full_unstemmed Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
title_sort Geomorphic status of regulated rivers in the Iberian Peninsula
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Lobera, Gemma
Besné, Pedro
Vericat, Damiá
López-Tarazón, José Antonio
Tena, Álvaro
Aristi De La Hoz, Ibon
Díez López, José Ramón
Ibisate González de Matauco, Askoa
Larrañaga Arrizabalaga, Aitor
Elosegi Irurtia, Arturo
Batalla, Ramón
author Lobera, Gemma
author_facet Lobera, Gemma
Besné, Pedro
Vericat, Damiá
López-Tarazón, José Antonio
Tena, Álvaro
Aristi De La Hoz, Ibon
Díez López, José Ramón
Ibisate González de Matauco, Askoa
Larrañaga Arrizabalaga, Aitor
Elosegi Irurtia, Arturo
Batalla, Ramón
author_role author
author2 Besné, Pedro
Vericat, Damiá
López-Tarazón, José Antonio
Tena, Álvaro
Aristi De La Hoz, Ibon
Díez López, José Ramón
Ibisate González de Matauco, Askoa
Larrañaga Arrizabalaga, Aitor
Elosegi Irurtia, Arturo
Batalla, Ramón
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Geomorphic Status
Flow regulation
Dams
Iberian rivers
topic Geomorphic Status
Flow regulation
Dams
Iberian rivers
description River regulation by dams modifies flow regimes, interrupts the transfer of sediment through channel networks, and alters downstream bed dynamics, altogether affecting channel form and processes. So far, most studies on the geomorphic impacts of dams are restricted to single rivers, or even single river stretches. In this paper we analyse the geomorphic status of 74 river sites distributed across four large basins in the Iberian Peninsula (i.e. 47 sites located downstream of dams). For this purpose, we combine field data with hydrological data available from water agencies, and analyse historical (1970) and current aerial photographs. In particular, we have developed a Geomorphic Status (GS) index that allows us to assess the physical structure of a given channel reach and its change through time. The GS encompasses a determination of changes in sedimentary units, sediment availability, bar stability and channel flow capacity. Sites are statistically grouped in four clusters based on contrasted physical and climate characteristics. Results emphasise that regulation changes river's flow regime with a generalized reduction of the magnitude and frequency of floods (thus flow competence). This, in addition to the decrease downstream sediment supply, results in the loss of active bars as they are encroached by vegetation, to the point that only reaches with little or no regulation maintain exposed sedimentary deposits. The GS of regulated river reaches is negatively correlated with magnitude of the impoundment (regulation). Heavily impacted reaches present channel stabilization and, in contrast to the hydrological response, the distance and number of tributaries do not reverse the geomorphic impact of the dams. Stabilization limits river dynamics and may contribute to the environmental degradation of the fluvial ecosystem. Overall, results describe the degree of geomorphological alteration experienced by representative Iberian rivers mostly because of regulation, challenging the successful long-term implementation of river basin management programmes.
publishDate 2014
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2014
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75920
url http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75920
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.058
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
© 2014 Elsevier under CC BY-NC-ND license
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
© 2014 Elsevier under CC BY-NC-ND license
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
instname:Universidad del País Vasco
instname_str Universidad del País Vasco
reponame_str Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
collection Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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