The ecohydrological vulnerability of a large inland delta to changing regional streamflows and upstream irrigation expansion

• DOI: 10.1002/eco.1824
• Publication Date: 2016-12-13T05:37:34Z
• Authors: Elmira Hassanzadeh; Amin Elshorbagy; Ali Nazemi; Timothy D. Jardine; Howard Wheater; Karl‐Erich Linden...
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 0207 environmental engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water

Abstract Future climate change and anthropogenic interventions can alter historical streamflow conditions consequently degrade the health biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. ecohydrological threats, however, are difficult to quantify using cascade hydrological models due various uncertainties involved. This study instead uses a fully bottom‐up approach evaluate vulnerability Saskatchewan River Delta (SRD), largest inland delta in North America, changing regime irrigation expansion. An ensemble perturbed sequences, along with scenarios current expanded irrigation, was generated fed into regional water resource system model. Results show that is more sensitive upstream changes annual flow volume than peak timing and/or The sensitivity volume, may be intensified when combined timing. Shifts magnitude delta, prime importance aquatic biota adapted rhythmicity flows Irrigation expansion decreases frequency flows, alters average low slightly shifts mean SRD. lead isolation lakes wetlands from main stream. Our results highlight SRD under potential assist proposing adaptation policies protect this ecosystem.