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Human-made small reservoirs alter dryland hydrological connectivity
Alberto Búrquez1, Mirsa Bojórquez Ochoa1, Angelina Martínez-Yrízar1
1Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Colosio y Sahuaripa, Hermosillo, Sonora 83250, Mexico.
The Science of the Total Environment
|July 13, 2024
Summary
Small reservoirs (SRs) significantly impact dryland hydrology and water availability by altering basin connectivity. Their distribution and effect on water retention vary with rainfall, influencing arid ecosystem management.
Area of Science:
- Hydrology
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Small reservoirs (SRs) are increasingly common in arid landscapes.
- Their cumulative impact on water availability and basin hydrology is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution, storage capacity, and hydrological impact of 1225 small reservoirs (SRs) in a Sonoran Desert basin.
- To analyze the relationship between SRs, environmental variables, and basin connectivity.
- To understand the influence of rainfall magnitude on SRs and hydrological connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Field measurements of SR storage capacity and environmental associations.
- Analysis of SR distribution in relation to geology and vegetation types.
- Hydrological connectivity assessment based on drainage patterns and rainfall events.
Main Results:
- SRs are associated with specific geological formations and vegetation types, with an average size of 5205 m².
- Only 20% of SRs retain water year-round; they disconnect 33% of the basin area.
- Rainfall magnitude critically influences connectivity: low-magnitude events reduce it, while moderate and high-magnitude events increase it.
Conclusions:
- SRs significantly alter dryland hydrology and reduce basin connectivity, impacting water resource management.
- The effect of SRs on connectivity is complex and depends on rainfall patterns.
- Understanding the cumulative effects of SRs is crucial for effective water resource management in arid ecosystems.
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