Document Type : پژوهشی
Authors
1 Department of Watershed Management Science and Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
2 Department of Nature Engineering, Shirvan Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bojnord
Abstract
It is necessary to examine all the components at different spatial and temporal scales to describe and evaluate all the complexities to develop river ecosystem management plans. In this regard, a key step is hydromorphological characterization, looking at rivers from a perspective that discloses the relevant processes and forms. The aim of this study is to classify, evaluate, and determine the hydromorphological condition of the Khormarud River in Golestan province, Iran, by employing the integrated application of the MQI and MQIm indices. In the first step, using remote sensing and GIS, the main characteristics studied at the geographical scale and used to determine the hydromorphological status of reaches by MQI and MQIm methods. Based on the analysis of MQI, 15 reaches are placed in very poor and poor classes. In contrast, nine and two reaches are placed in moderate and good classes, respectively. The difference among MQI index values across the reaches is significant at 5% level. In addition, the difference among MQIm index values for the two periods, before and after human interventions, in the investigated reach is significant at 5% level. For most reaches, the lowest scores are related to the indicators of vegetation, functional, morphology, and stream changes, respectively. Both the MQI and MQIm morphological evaluation indices are used in different time scales, so they can be considered as complements and not substitutes for hydromorphological condition assessment. By integrating the MQI and MQIm indices, a more comprehensive view of the hydromorphological condition can be gained,
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