Comparison of temporal changes in flow regime components in two natural and affected by dam construction rivers in Ardabil Province

Mostafazadeh, Raoof; Azizi Mobaser, Javanshir; Mirzaei, Shahnaz

doi:10.22034/hyd.2025.64537.1765

Document Type : پژوهشی

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources and member of Water Management Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

² Associate Professor, Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

³ Ph.D in Watershed Management Sciences and Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/hyd.2025.64537.1765

Abstract

The river flow regime can be influenced by various climatic and anthropogenic factors, including land use changes, dam construction, flow diversion, and water abstraction, leading to changes in available water and environmental flow allocation patterns. This study compares the changes in flow regime components between two rivers, one natural and one regulated by a dam, in Ardabil Province. Using R programming, various charts, change point analysis, and significant temporal trends were derived for flow statistics, including high flow, low flow, and baseflow. The results indicate change points in all three flow components (annual maximum, Q10, Q25, low flow, and baseflow) in both natural and regulated rivers, with more pronounced changes occurring in the regulated river after dam construction. In the natural Khiavchai River, high flow and peak discharge showed no significant trends, whereas in the regulated Balikhlochai River, all flow components exhibited significant decreasing trends. Comparison of flow duration curves and violin plots revealed substantial reductions in minimum flows and baseflows in the regulated river, with monthly discharge distributions strongly influenced by dam regulation. Comprehensive evaluation of river regime changes and flow components enables prediction of trends and effective water management for environmental flow allocation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Hydrology

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Comparison of temporal changes in flow regime components in two natural and affected by dam construction rivers in Ardabil Province

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Volume 12, Issue 42 - Serial Number 42April 2025Pages 155-137

Volume 12, Issue 42 - Serial Number 42
April 2025
Pages 155-137