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RIVER REGULATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTCASE STUDY OF THE HYDROSPHERE MR SHIPP NHSPA 2015
River regulation is the act of controlling river water level or the variability of river flows to meet human demands
The mains reasons are domestic, industrial, irrigational and energy supplies
Hint: The 3 main river systems we will use as examples are the Murray-Darling, The Three
Gorges Dam and the Aral Sea
Hint: Rivers are a crucial function that interacts with lithosphere and biosphere
The Key Biophysical Processes for Rivers
Precipitation falling at high points in the landscape will be divided at a watershed and flow downwards into a catchment zone
inputs - rain, snow
outputs - evaporation, into oceans, transpiration from plants or human use
FLOOD PLAINS AND RIVER CATCHMENT AREAS
Hydrological Function within the water cycle
Geomorphic Function mass movement of solid or soluble productions. Erosion along river banks
Ecological Function main source of life for animal/plant species
WHY RIVERS CURVE
Main terms to learn about Rivers Click here
River Processes Overtime
Case 1:Murray Darling River Management
Issues that have caused loss of water in the river
drought, climate change, population growth, storage of river regulation, irrigation
Under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, the Aust Govt aims to return 2,750 GL to the river system
click here
MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN
Salinity
The release of salt from groundwater released into the river. Can decrease water quality and soil fertility.
Two major causes for the MDB: dryland salinity and irrigation-induced
Management: Sinking bores into groundwater taking out saline water or replanting of trees in farming areas
Impacts of River Regulation on the Spheres for the Murray Darling Basin
BACKLASH TO MURRAY DARLING BASIN PLANABC NEWS, 2010
Turbidity and Nutrient Runoff
The Cloudiness of Water. Natural processes of weathering and erosion cause increase to turbidity levels.
Important to manage turbidity as it reduces the ability from primary producers in the food chain to grow
Management: Soil Erosion of farming areas, monitoring of water quality after floods, replanting of trees along river banks
Habitat Change due to Dam Construction
Dams create deep, still and slow moving water
Dams and Weirs prevent the natural flow of water species
Fish species particularly the golden perch and murray cod have nearly become extinct
Management: Recreating in-stream habitats, restoration of wetlands, removal of introduced-species such as the European carp
Hint:It is important to include Government Strategies in any question that involves management in Geography
MURRAY DARLING AND THE WATER CYCLE
High Relief - V-Shaped Valleys, Low Relief - Floodplains, deltas and levees
Fluvial Landform Features
Braided Rivers
Found in high alpine areas due to short periods of high discharge
Meander
The repeated curves of the river channel
Oxbow Lakes/Billabongs
Meanders that continue to bend until two channels meet and break off. These dry out over and leave scars
Hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River, China and is the worlds largest power station and hydroelectric facility
The Chinese Government regards it as a historic development that may lead to reduce of greenhouse emissions due to less coal producing required, lower threat of acid rain
Case 2:Three Gorges Dam
THREE GORGES DAM, CHINALARGEST HYDROELECTRIC DAM IN THE WORLD
1. Damage to local habitats e.g Chinese River Dolphin. Unable to swim upstream to spawn. Management: government to design artificial spawning reserves
2. Changes to the Water Quality due to dam construction, dissolved oxygen content
3. Loss of forest and agriculture clearing will increase erosion, decrease fertility of soil downstream and threat of landslides
Environmental Impacts
Displacement of 1.3 million people along the Yangtze River. Towns submerged under the reservoir
Impact to nearby towns to accommodate migrant workers
Farming communities downstream affected by pollution and loss of water supply
Social Impacts
Water diversions, agricultural practices, and industrial waste have resulted in a disappearing sea, salinization, and organic and inorganic pollution
Intensive problems discovered after the break up of the Soviet Union, 1991.
Management:The Agreement on Cooperation in the Management, Utilization and Protection of Interstate Water Resources was signed on February 18, 1992
Case 3:Aral Sea
The salt and mineral content of the lake rose drastically
Water unfit for drinking purposes and killing off the once-abundant supplies of fish species
More extreme winter and summer temperatures
Impacts
ARAL SEA MANAGEMENT AND IMPACTS