Chapter 17
Environmental Flow Definition
and Management: A Case Study
of the Jiaojiang River, Zhejiang Province
Abstract This chapter deals with environmental flow management in China using
a case study of the Jiaojiang River in Zhejiang Province. The chapter starts with a
review of environmental flow research and management in China, followed by a case
study combining environmental flow assessment before making recommendations
on water resources planning. This chapter outlines a methodology for identifying
ecological assets and determining the flows that are important to their health. A
pilot study on the Jiaojiang River in Zhejiang Province was used to demonstrate the
application of a water resources allocation planning approach, coupled with an environmental flow assessment. A detailed ecological assessment was completed, which
formed the basis for identifying important ecological assets and their flow requirements. A water resources management model for part of the river was developed,
used to assess the ecological impacts of a proposed dam on the Zhu Creek. Different
scenarios were developed to show how different abstraction caps and operational
rules could deliver different results in terms of supply reliability and achieving the
identified environmental flow requirements. The results indicate that there is significant potential for improving both supply reliability and environmental outcomes
through modified operational arrangements.
Keywords Environmental flow definition and management · Environmental flow
research and management · Water resources management model · Water resources
allocation scenarios · Jiaojiang River
17.1 Introduction
With their diverse and valuable functions, rivers are among the most significant
ecosystems in nature. However, driven by socio-economic development, human
beings have excessively influenced, occupied, and controlled water resources in
recent decades. With the substantial transformation of rivers and much river water
The chapter is based on WET (2007) Water entitlements and trading project (WET Phase II) final
report.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_17
361
Environmental Flow Definition
and Management: A Case Study
of the Jiaojiang River, Zhejiang Province
Abstract This chapter deals with environmental flow management in China using
a case study of the Jiaojiang River in Zhejiang Province. The chapter starts with a
review of environmental flow research and management in China, followed by a case
study combining environmental flow assessment before making recommendations
on water resources planning. This chapter outlines a methodology for identifying
ecological assets and determining the flows that are important to their health. A
pilot study on the Jiaojiang River in Zhejiang Province was used to demonstrate the
application of a water resources allocation planning approach, coupled with an environmental flow assessment. A detailed ecological assessment was completed, which
formed the basis for identifying important ecological assets and their flow requirements. A water resources management model for part of the river was developed,
used to assess the ecological impacts of a proposed dam on the Zhu Creek. Different
scenarios were developed to show how different abstraction caps and operational
rules could deliver different results in terms of supply reliability and achieving the
identified environmental flow requirements. The results indicate that there is significant potential for improving both supply reliability and environmental outcomes
through modified operational arrangements.
Keywords Environmental flow definition and management · Environmental flow
research and management · Water resources management model · Water resources
allocation scenarios · Jiaojiang River
17.1 Introduction
With their diverse and valuable functions, rivers are among the most significant
ecosystems in nature. However, driven by socio-economic development, human
beings have excessively influenced, occupied, and controlled water resources in
recent decades. With the substantial transformation of rivers and much river water
The chapter is based on WET (2007) Water entitlements and trading project (WET Phase II) final
report.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_17
361