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Changes in streamflow regimes and their response to different soil and water conservation measures in Loess Plateau watersheds
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  • Shuyu Zhang,
  • Guangju Zhao,
  • Xingmin Mu,
  • Peng Tian
Shuyu Zhang
Northwest A&F University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Guangju Zhao
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources
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Xingmin Mu
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources
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Peng Tian
Northwest A&F University
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Abstract

Investigating the changes in streamflow regimes is useful for understanding the mechanisms associated with hydrological processes in different watersheds and for providing information to facilitate water resources management. In this study, we selected three watersheds, i.e., Sandu River, Hulu River, and Dali River on the Loess Plateau, to examine the changes in the streamflow regimes and to determine their responses to different soil and water conservation measures (terracing, afforestation, and damming). The daily runoff was collected continuously by three hydrological gauges close to the outlets of the three watersheds from 1965 to 2016. The eco-surplus, eco-deficit, and degree of hydrological change were assessed to detect hydrological alterations. The Budyko water balance equation was applied to estimate the potential impacts of climate change and human activities on the hydrological regime changes. Significant decreasing trends (P < 0.05) were detected in the annual streamflow in the Sandu and Dali River watersheds, but not in the Hulu River watershed where afforestation dominated. The annual eco-surplus levels were low and they decreased slightly at three stations, whereas the eco-deficit exhibited dramatic increasing trends in the Sandu and Dali River watersheds. In the Sandu River watershed (dominated by terraces), the runoff exhibited the most significant reduction and the eco-deficit was the highest among the three watersheds. The integral degrees of hydrological change were higher in the Sandu River watershed than the other two watersheds, thereby suggesting substantial variations in the magnitude, duration, frequency, timing, and rate of change in the daily streamflow. In the Dali River watershed (dominated by damming), the changes in the extreme flow were characterized by a decreasing number appearing in high flow. In these watersheds, human activities accounted for 74.1% and 91.78% of the runoff reductions, respectively. In the Hulu River watershed (dominated by afforestation), the annual runoff exhibited an insignificant decreasing trend but with a significant increase in the low flow duration. Rainfall changes accounted for 64.30% of the runoff reduction.
28 Mar 2021Submitted to Hydrological Processes
31 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
31 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
02 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Jun 20211st Revision Received
28 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
28 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
28 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
31 Jul 20212nd Revision Received
02 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
02 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
17 Sep 20213rd Revision Received
20 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept