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In this study, we develop a machine-learning (ML)-enabled strategy for selecting hillslope-scale ecohydrological monitoring sites within snow-dominated mountainous watersheds, with a particular focus on snow-soil–plant interactions. Data layers rely on spatial data layers from both remote sensing and hydrological model simulations. Specifically, a Landsat-based foresummer drought sensitivity index is used to define the dependency of the annual peak plant productivity on the Palmer drought severity index in the early growing season. Hydrological simulations provide the spatiotemporal dynamics of near-surface soil moisture and snow depth. In this framework, a regression analysis identifies the key hydrological variables relevant to the spatial heterogeneity of drought sensitivity. We then apply unsupervised clustering to these key variables, using the Gaussian mixture model, to group hillslopes into several zones that have divergent relationships regarding soil moisture, snow dynamics, and drought sensitivity. Using the datasets collected in the East River Watershed (Crested Butte, Colorado, United States), results show that drought sensitivity is significantly correlated with model-derived soil moisture and snow-free timing over space and time. The relationship is, however, non-linear, such that the correlation decreases above a threshold elevation and in a heavy snow year due to large snowpacks, lateral flow, and soil storage limitations. Clustering is then able to define the zones that have high or low sensitivity to drought, as well as the mid-elevation regions where sensitivity is associated with the topographic aspect and net potential radiation. In addition, the algorithm identifies the most representative hillslopes with road/trail access within each zone for installing monitoring sites. Our method also aims to significantly increase the use of ML and model-simulation results to guide critical zone and watershed monitoring activities.

Bacterial communities play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of river ecosystems and driving biogeochemical cycling, exhibiting high sensitivity to environmental change. However, understanding the spatial scale effects and assembly mechanisms of riverine bacterial communities under distinct anthropogenic disturbances remains a challenge. Here, we investigated bacterial communities across three distinct watersheds [i.e., intensive urban (UW), intensive agricultural (AW), and natural (NW)] in both dry and wet seasons. We explored biogeographic patterns of bacterial communities and the influence of landscape patterns at multi-spatial scales and water chemistry on bacterial communities. Results showed that α diversity was significantly lower in UW and AW compared to NW, particularly in the dry season. A gradient of β diversity with NW > UW > AW was observed across both seasons (p < 0.05). Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota were the most abundant phyla across all watersheds, with specific taxa enriched in each watershed (i.e., the class Actinobacteria was significant enrichment in UW and AW, and Clostridia in NW). The influence of landscape patterns on bacterial communities was significantly lower in human-disturbed watersheds, particularly in UW, where this influence also varied slightly from near riparian buffers to sub-watershed. Homogeneous selection and drift jointly dominated the bacterial community assembly across all watersheds, with homogeneous selection exhibiting a greater influence in UW and AW. Landscape patterns explained less variance in bacterial communities in UW and AW than in NW, and more variance was explained by water chemistry (particularly in UW). These suggest that the stronger influence of species sorting in UW and AW was driven by more allochthonous inputs of water chemistry (greater environmental stress). These findings provide a theoretical foundation for a deeper understanding of riverine bacterial community structure, spatial scale effects, and ecological management under different anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental phenomena shed light on the fiction that inter-state borders constitute on some level, and the limitations of state-based environmental governance. Transboundary watersheds, in particular, flow across borders of different kinds, evincing the interdependence of water bodies, both human and nonhuman. The lack of cross-border comprehensive environmental governance imposes regional forms of inequity and inefficient forms of water protection. In Central America, to address such problems, citizens have created a legal prototype for how transboundary watersheds could be governed as a commons going forward. This endeavour has been led by Salvadorans, concerned as they are by their country's position as a lower co-riparian and their significant interdependence with transboundary water bodies. I argue that, in addition to destabilizing established approaches to environmental governance, the legal prototype opens avenues for forms of earthly politics and multispecies justice by placing the reproduction of life, human and nonhuman, side by side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerated erosion caused by human activities is the major triggering factor for the loss of soil and water resources in Ethiopia. Soil erosion is commonly regarded as a major environmental problem that affects the sustainability of agricultural production and downstream reservoir. To facilitate urgent policy intervention in sustainable land management, evaluating the amount of annual soil loss is inevitable. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographic Information System (GIS) are integrated to analyse the amount of soil loss in the Neshe Dam Watershed of Ethiopia. The total amount of soil loss from the watershed (33,376 hectares) is about 1,252,935 tons per year. Furthermore, the potential average annual soil loss for the whole watershed is anticipated at 37.54 t ha−1 yr−1. In terms of sub-watersheds, very high soil loss (56.62 t ha−1 yr−1) was observed in sub-watershed B accounts (for 16.3%) and the least (16.06 t ha−1 yr−1) observed in sub-watershed E accounts (for 23.6%). The study concluded that if proper measures are not taken now, the accelerated erosion in the watershed will jeopardize the sustainability of agricultural production within the watershed and energy generated from the dam in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the natural hazards, without a doubt, the flood is known as a natural disaster. In this research, Shannon entropy model was used to prepare a flood sensitivity map. In this research, the Shannon entropy model was used to create a flood sensitivity map. Initially, 34 flood watersheds were selected from the Firoozabad basin, then these 34 points were classified into two groups. Out of the 34 points, 22 points (65 percent) were used for training and modeling, while the remaining 12 points (35 percent) were not used in the modeling process and were reserved for validation. First, a map depicting the flood status was developed. Then, ten factors, including slope, aspect, lithology, land use, NDVI, SPI, TWI, altitude, rainfall, and distance from the river, were selected as flood factors. Prioritizing the factors that have an impact on flood occurrence based on the Shannon entropy index revealed that the NDVI layers (2.03), rainfall (2.00), distance from the river (1.89), SPI (1.385), elevation classes (0.999), gradient with weight (0.932), lithology (0 .478), TWI (0 .379), land use (0 .280) and aspect (0.184) had the highest and lowest impacts on flood events, respectively The results of the ROC curve showed that the predicted surface area under the curve with the validation data (35 percent) was equal to 91.42 percent, and the success rate with the training data (65 percent) was equal to 92.53 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the spatio-temporal variations of metal pollution in the sediment of an industrialized watershed, this study aims to identify ecological risks. Utilizing six risk assessment indices--enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I-geo), potential ecological risk (RI), contamination factor (CF), ecological risk assessment (ER), and Pollution Load Index (PLI)--the research distinguishes between anthropogenic and geogenic sources. Surface sediment samples are collected from nine locations (comprising seven monitoring sites and two reference sites) across the watershed during both dry and wet seasons. Reference concentrations, tailored to accurately reflect local characteristics, are employed to compute the indices. Results indicate significantly elevated concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni throughout the basin, exceeding reference values by factors of 15, 20, 5, 10, and 5, respectively. Wet and dry season assessments reveal varying I-geo and EF values across monitoring stations. Cd emerges as the primary ecological risk, predominantly attributed to industrial discharges. Moreover, dry season contamination surpasses that of the wet season. Comparative analysis of the indices reveals PLI's efficacy for spatial assessments, while RI analysis better elucidates temporal variations. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for devising strategies to mitigate sediment contamination in industrial watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme short-duration rainfall is intensifying with climate warming, and growing evidence suggests that subhourly rainfall extremes are increasing faster than more widely studied durations at hourly and daily timescales. In this case study, we used 55 years (1968–2022) of 5-min precipitation data from Mahantango Creek, a long-term experimental agricultural watershed in east-central Pennsylvania, United States, to examine annual and seasonal changes in subhourly (15-min), hourly, and daily rainfall extremes. Specifically, we evaluated temporal trends in the magnitude and frequency of subhourly, hourly, and daily rainfall extremes. We then estimated apparent scaling rates between rainfall extremes and dew point temperature (Td) and compared these rates to the Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) rate (∼ 7% per °C). We also determined the coincidence of extreme rainfall trends with indicators of atmospheric instability and convective-type precipitation. Overall, we found the most significant changes in rainfall extremes at 15-min durations during the spring, with magnitudes of these subhourly extremes increasing by 0.6 to 0.9% per year, and frequencies rising by 3.4% per year. Apparent scaling rates in the spring showed that 15-min rainfall extremes transitioned from sub-CC scaling to greater than 2CC scaling when Td reached 11° C, implying a possible shift from stratiform rains to more intense convective rains above this Td threshold. Notably, trends in maximum hourly convective available potential energy (CAPE) increased during spring, as did the ratio of 15-min rainfall extremes to their corresponding daily rainfall totals. Findings indicate that convective-type precipitation may be playing an increasing role in the intensification of springtime 15-min rainfall extremes in Mahantango Creek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use is a remarkable human-induced change that has redesigned the Earth's surface since the beginning of civilization. Due to the combination of rugged terrain and low-income levels in rural areas, people in watershed regions often resort to overexploiting forests, agricultural land, and grasslands beyond their capacity. As a result of these spatio-temporal changes in land use, various soil properties undergo changes. This study aims to determine the changes in some physical (texture, bulk weight, particle density, total porosity), hydro-physical (water holding capacity, permeability, field capacity, wilting point), physico-chemical (organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity), and erodibility (dispersion ratio, colloid–moisture equivalent ratio, erosion ratio, clay ratio, aggregate stability and K-factor of Universal Soil Loss Equation-USLE) properties of soil depending on land use in the Deviskel Watershed in the city of Artvin in Türkiye. For this purpose, disturbed (composite) and undisturbed (cylinder) soil samples were taken from a 0 to 20 cm depth at 108 different points in the determined areas (36 from forests, 36 from agricultural areas, and 36 from grassland areas). It was determined that 15 of the 19 soil properties examined showed statistical differences depending on the change in land use. All the examined soil properties, except for clay content, particle density, dispersion ratio, and aggregate stability, were found to be statistically significantly affected by the change in land use, and the reasons behind these changes were discussed. The particle density had the lowest coefficient of variation value (15.26%) while electrical conductivity had the highest coefficient of variation value (91.25%). According to erosion tendencies, all watershed soils were found to be susceptible to erosion. The average aggregate stability was 88.52% in forest soils, 84.84% in agricultural soils, and 85.48% in grassland soils. The average USLE-K factor was determined to be 0.22 for forests, while it was determined to be 0.17 and 0.18 for agriculture and grassland areas, respectively. According to the USLE-K factor, 68.37% of the watershed was dominated by moderately erodible soils, while 31.63% consisted of highly erodible soils. Based on the colloid–moisture equivalent ratio, erosion ratio, and clay ratio, which are statistically different erodibility features, the grassland soils of the research area were found to be more susceptible to erosion than forest and agricultural soils. In terms of aggregate stability, which indicates resistance to water erosion, forest areas had higher values, while agricultural lands were more prone to erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the National Water Management Basic Plan, this study conducted research to identify priority management watersheds in the Yeongsan River basin to respond to changes in water environmental conditions and improve water quality. Analysis of water quality over the past decade revealed that points located in the middle and lower of the Yeongsan River exceeded the target water quality standards. As based on the results, pollution sources and loads indicated that the W‐1 watershed, classified as urban areas, exhibited high levels in residential, industrial, and urban landuse characteristics, whereas the W‐6 watershed, classified as rural areas, showed high levels in livestock farming, aquaculture, and agricultural landuse (wet and dry filed) categories. To understand the impact of point source (PS) and non‐point source (NPS) pollution within the watershed, load duration curve (LDC) analysis was conducted, indicating that downstream segments of all flow ranges exceeded the target water quality standards, necessitating management of both PS and NPS. Multivariate log‐linear analysis also confirmed the influence of PS and NPS, suggesting that watershed management should concurrently address both types of pollution. Based on the results, priority management watershed rankings were derived through the calculation of standard and integrated indicators, with the analysis indicating the following order: W‐1 > W‐6 > W‐3 > W‐4 > W‐2 > W‐5 > W‐7 > W‐8. Practitioner Points: Priority management watersheds that urgently need water environment management can be identified.The priority management watershed rankings were derived through the calculation of integrated indicators data on BOD, TP concentration, and loads.Serve as a guide for future diagnostic assessments of pollution sources and the development of effective management strategies.Anticipated to significantly contribute to the establishment of robust water quality management practices in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is both the cause and effect of land degradation. Land use/land cover conversion that changes the inherent landscape structure of watersheds leads to soil loss increase. Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed (PCW) as a major source of irrigation, electricity, biodiversity, livelihood, and other ecosystem services, thus, it is imperative to spatially and temporally estimate the soil erosion within its boundary to assist and guide decision-makers in planning conservation and management of the watershed. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, remotely sensed data, soil analysis, and geographical information system, the soil erosion rate in PCW was estimated. Results showed that there is increasing soil erosion in PCW over time. In 2010 soil erosion rate was estimated to be 134 tons·ha-1·yr-1 which increased to 141 tons·ha-1·yr-1 and 154 tons·ha-1·yr-1 in 2015 and 2020, respectively. Considering the average soil erosion rate and land cover types in PCW, annual crop and open/barren land cover types have the highest average soil erosion rate through time with moderate and catastrophic erosion levels, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring nitrogen dynamics in stream networks is critical for understanding how these systems attenuate nutrient pollution while maintaining ecological productivity. We investigated Oak Creek, a dryland watershed in central Arizona, USA, to elucidate the relationship between terrestrial nitrate (NO3−) loading and stream NO3− uptake, highlighting the influence of land cover and hydrologic connectivity. We conducted four seasonal synoptic sampling campaigns along the 167‐km network combined with stream NO3− uptake experiments (in 370–710‐m reaches) and integrated the data in a mass‐balance model to scale in‐stream uptake and estimate NO3− loading from landscape to the stream network. Stream NO3− concentrations were low throughout the watershed (<5–236 μg N/L) and stream NO3− vertical uptake velocity was high (5.5–18.0 mm/min). During the summer dry (June), summer wet (September), and winter dry (November) seasons, the lower mainstem exhibited higher lateral NO3− loading (10–51 kg N km−2 d−1) than the headwaters and tributaries (<0.001–0.086 kg N km−2 d−1), likely owing to differences in irrigation infrastructure and near‐stream land cover. In contrast, during the winter wet season (February) lateral NO3− loads were higher in the intermittent headwaters and tributaries (0.008–0.479 kg N km−2 d−1), which had flowing surface water only in this season. Despite high lateral NO3− loading in some locations, in‐stream uptake removed >81% of NO3− before reaching the watershed outlet. Our findings highlight that high rates of in‐stream uptake maintain low nitrogen export at the network scale, even with high fluxes from the landscape and seasonal variation in hydrologic connectivity. Plain Language Summary: Exploring nitrogen dynamics in desert streams is critical for understanding how these systems can reduce pollution while maintaining healthy ecosystems. We examined how seasons and human activities, like farming and development, affect nitrogen pollution in a desert stream in Arizona, USA. We found that in seasons with little rain, nitrogen delivery to the stream was high in areas where irrigation is common. However, in‐stream nitrogen remained low because of the high capacity of the stream algal and microbial community to remove nitrogen from the water. This reveals that plants and microbes play a vital role in regulating nitrogen in deserts. This study has broad implications beyond this particular desert stream, emphasizing the importance of understanding complex interactions between human activities, water, and stream microbes. By studying these interactions, we can better manage and preserve desert streams with changing climate and human pressures. Key Points: Nitrate loading to a dryland stream network varies spatially and seasonally due to hydrologic connection to landscape nutrient sourcesHigh in‐stream nitrate uptake maintained low stream nitrate concentration and watershed export even when landscape inputs were highIn drylands, hydrologic disconnections in space and time between nitrate sources and the stream requires a flexible modeling approach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses six states and the District of Columbia. Consequently, the people within it display great diversity in terms of values, allegiances, and experiences. That diversity may help to explain an apparent inability to coordinate actions aimed at redressing the dismal water quality throughout the watershed. In this paper, we bridge theory to an applied scenario to examine the importance of developing a collective identity within the watershed to bring about changes in individual behavior and policies. We present the current conditions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, propose a stage model for the development of a collective watershed identity, outline theoretically grounded determinants of each stage, and discuss the challenges in developing a collective identity. We further suggest several guiding questions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of watershed management is a crucial issue that must be addressed to guarantee the persistence of watershed services including agriculture, food production, and energy supply. This issue has also been addressed in Presidential Regulation No. 18/2020 concerning the National Medium-Term Development Plans for 2020–2024, which stipulate the restoration of priority watersheds, including the Upstream Bengawan Solo Watershed. This study seeks to address this information gap by assessing the local sustainability of the watershed from a temporal dynamics perspective by calculating the Local Sustainability Index (LSI), Local Moran Index, and spatial associations. Measuring sustainable development indices locally is essential because each location has different characteristics, and using specific indicators at the local level is rarely done. The enactment of the national law on village autonomy in Indonesia necessitates the formulation of sustainable development indicators at the village level. These indicators serve as the metrics and frameworks for local government policies and initiatives. Our results show that village sustainability in the social and economic dimensions has increased from 2007 to 2021, especially in urban activity center areas that serve social and economic facilities. This seems different in the environmental dimension, where the sustainability value decreased from 2007 to 2021. The concentration of low sustainability values on ecological conditions occurred in pocket areas. Environmental problems were indicated by land-use conversion and disaster areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover (LULC) data are essential for Earth science research. Due to the high fragmentation and heterogeneity of landscapes, machine learning-based LULC classification frequently emphasizes results such as classification accuracy, efficiency, and variable importance analysis. However, this approach often overlooks the intermediate processes, and LULC mapping that relies on a single classifier typically does not yield satisfactory results. In this paper, to obtain refined LULC classification products at the watershed scale and improve the accuracy and efficiency of watershed-scale mapping, we propose a subregion ensemble learning classification framework. The Huangshui River watershed, located in the transition belts between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau, is chosen as the case study area, and Sentinel-2A/B multi-temporal data are selected for ensemble learning classification. Using the proposed method, the block classification scale is analyzed and illustrated at the watershed, and the classification accuracy and efficiency of the new method are compared and analyzed against three ensemble learning methods using several variables. The proposed watershed-scale ensemble learning framework has better accuracy and efficiency for LULC mapping and has certain advantages over the other methods. The method proposed in this study provides new ideas for watershed-scale LULC mapping technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing flood resilience has become crucial for watershed flood prevention. However, current methods for quantifying resilience often exhibit coarse spatiotemporal granularity, leading to insufficient precision in watershed resilience assessments and hindering the accurate implementation of resilience enhancement measures. This study proposes a watershed flood resilience assessment method based on a system performance curve that considers thresholds of inundation depth and duration. A nested one- and two-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic model, spanning two spatial scales, was utilized to simulate flood processes in plain river network areas with detailed and complex hydraulic connections. The proposed framework was applied to the Hangjiahu area (Taihu Basin, China). The results indicated that the overall trend of resilience curves across different underlying surfaces initially decreased and then increase, with a significant decline observed within 20–50 h. The resilience of paddy fields and forests was the highest, while that of drylands and grasslands was the lowest, but the former had less recovery ability than the latter. The resilience of urban systems sharply declined within the first 40 h and showed no signs of recovery, with the curve remaining at a low level. In some regions, the flood tolerance depth and duration for all land use types exceeded the upper threshold. The resilience of the western part of the Hangjiahu area was higher than that of other regions, whereas the resilience of the southern region was lower compared to the northern region. The terrain and tolerance thresholds of inundation depth were the main factors affecting watershed flood resilience. The findings of this study provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of flood resilience and for precisely guiding the implementation and management of flood resilience enhancement projects in the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological models are vital for water management to determine in-stream flow, irrigational water, domestic water supply, and biodiversity conservation. This study formulates a hydrological model with a novel approach for streamflow and sediment load in the QGIS-supported Soil and Water Assessment Tool for the Halda River catchment, a unique ecological habitat for natural carp spawning and freshwater sources. The daily simulation uses an innovative stage-discharge relationship technique from available 15-day interval flow data. The model evaluation parameters R2 values 0.80 and 0.62, and NS values 0.81 and 0.61 for calibration and validation of streamflow suggested excellent agreement in the seasonal cycle and most of the monsoon peak flow. The streamflow/precipitation ratio indicates a significant influence of groundwater through infiltration. The baseflow shows a decreasing trend. The sediment load based on suspended sediment concentration at a downstream location is 1,625 tons/day. On the contrary, the model prediction is 30 times lower. The scattered sediment load data support the model estimate by considering relatively lower intervention or land use change in its upstream. This model provides a baseline for daily flow and sediment load for scenario modeling (e.g., climate change, land use change) for environmental flow estimation of the fish habitat, freshwater supply, irrigation, and salinity intrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the need for integrated management of groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW), quantification of GW–SW interactions and associated contaminant transport has become increasingly important. This is due to their substantial impact on water quantity and quality. In this review, we provide an overview of the methods developed over the past several decades to investigate GW–SW interactions. These methods include geophysical, hydrometric, and tracer techniques, as well as various modeling approaches. Different methods reveal valuable information on GW–SW interactions at different scales with their respective advantages and limitations. Interpreting data from these techniques can be challenging due to factors like scale effects, heterogeneous hydrogeological conditions, sediment variability, and complex spatiotemporal connections between GW and SW. To facilitate the selection of appropriate methods for specific sites, we discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of each technique, and we offer perspectives on knowledge gaps in the current science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High spatial resolution, accurate precipitation data, which is currently unavailable in many parts of the world, is required for a variety of applications. This study investigates the utility of employing Global Satellite Precipitation (GSP) in conjunction with ground-based precipitation data. Monthly studies of the research area were performed using fourteen various GSP models, including CHIRPS, CFS, CPC CMORPH, and others. According to our findings, CHIRPS is the most successful GSP model we investigated. All GSP models performed better when the daily precipitation data was adjusted using monthly mean linear adjustment factors. The approach consisted of five processes: feature class and feature selection, asset import into Google Earth Engine, GSP model evaluation, precision assessment of GSP and observation data, and regression analysis for spatial mapping. The results reveal that when adjusted for daily data, CHIRPS and other GSP models perform much better, showing that they are suitable for precipitation estimation. This work contributes to the development of methods for estimating precipitation, particularly in areas with limited ground-based data. The advice to use ground-based observations in addition to satellite-retrieved precipitation data is intended to improve weather forecast accuracy and aid early warning systems for severe weather. Our research stresses the importance of a hybrid strategy that combines high-resolution models and satellite data for effectively managing watersheds and disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated flood vulnerability in the Ciliman and Cilemer Watersheds, situated in Banten Province, and employs a spatial multi-criteria-integrated approach, with a specific focus on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Two distinct scenarios, which have different parameter priority, were compared: one based on expert judgment for pairwise parameter comparisons (scenario-1) and the other derived from historical flood occurrences in high and very high vulnerability areas (scenario-2). Seven parameters, including elevation, slope, precipitation, geologic, soil type, land use, and distance to streams were weighted substantially different between the two scenarios. The study validated the flood vulnerability scenarios by contrasting them with historical flood data. Scenario-2 exhibited a closer agreement with the historical flood points during validation, particularly in very high vulnerability areas. Elevation and slope are identified as pivotal factors influencing flood vulnerability: low elevations and gentle slopes increased vulnerability, while higher slopes decreased flood susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rembang Regency has little annual rainfall, ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 mm. The Capluk Watershed in Rembang is the only one with a discharge station. The average rainfall of the watershed in 2011 to 2020 is relatively low (1,877 mm/year). Moors are the dominant land use in the watershed, so the watershed is prone to drought. This study aims to assess the water balance and land use planning to reduce water deficits. The FJ Mock modeling method is used to understand hydrological phenomena, where the results can help manage water resources by regulating land use by utilizing the exposed surface parameters in the model. The results show that the demand for water in the watershed for the 2011 to 2020 period reaches an average of 49,151,012 m³/year, while the availability of water is 132,512,172 m³/year. This condition shows that the total water balance experiences an average surplus of 83,361,160 m³/year but experiences a deficit in the dry season, an average of 3,452,278 m³/year. For land use planning, scenario 5 (a combination of regional spatial plan maps, forest area maps, general plan for forest and land rehabilitation maps, and land use in 2020) is the best in reducing the water deficit by 20,383,274 m³ or can lower the water deficit to 4,957,173 m³. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial vegetation in farmlands can mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) by capturing atmospheric carbon and storing it in the soil for extended periods. The objective of this study was to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations and stocks under tree buffer (TB), grass buffer (GB), grass waterways (WW) and crop field (CS, corn-soybean rotation) to evaluate the significance of conservation measures in C sequestration projects. Soil samples were collected up to 1 m depth at upper, middle, and lower landscape positions from 26-year-old TB, GB, and WW in a watershed. The SOC concentration decreased with increasing soil depth for all four land uses. However, as expected, bulk density increased with increasing soil depth for all four land uses. It was highest for the CS land use. In 2023, for the depth of 0–10 cm, SOC increased by +0.63, +1.06, +1.37 and +1.63% in CS, GB, TB, and WW, respectively, since the land uses were established 26 years ago. Land uses had greater impacts on SOC stock in the top 50 cm depth, with WW (113.5 ± 12.9 Mg ha−1), TB (106 ± 14.5 Mg ha−1), and GB (102.4 ± 11.6 Mg ha−1) compared to CS (90.9 ± 10.2 Mg ha−1). However, at watershed level, with ~ 10% cover by TB or GB areas and the rest under CS, SOC stock up to 50 cm depth was respectively 91.6 and 91.2 Mg ha−1 compared to 90 Mg ha−1 by CS alone—1.3 to 1.8% increase. This is a significant increase in soil organic carbon across the landscape, which was realized with the conservation practices and agroforestry, while also playing a crucial role in protecting surface runoff in the landscape. Future studies may consider valuation of the overall ecosystem services due to the land uses (conservation measures) and the trees by considering optimization of incorporating such technologies in the farming systems to reduce negative trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The condition of the Bengkulu watershed area is outlined in the Indonesia Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Adverse conditions in the watershed have been linked to a range of natural calamities, such as floods and droughts. Moreover, the process of converting forests into plantations or agricultural lands has resulted in environmental degradation. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an evaluation of vegetation density and plant analysis within the watershed. This is crucial for comprehending ecological conditions, devising restoration measures, and implementing conservation efforts. Hence, the aim of this study is to analyze vegetation density and track plant diversity, specifically focusing on tree characteristics, throughout. METHODS: The study techniques utilized in this investigation encompass the gathering of normalized difference vegetation index data from satellite imagery, followed by its analysis through the utilization of geographic information system software. Sentinel satellite imagery from 2021 is utilized due to its efficacy in monitoring environmental conditions and managing natural resources. Spatial data encompass maps and field data. FINDINGS: By employing normalized difference vegetation index data, the study pioneers a novel approach to environmental monitoring, setting an example for effective resource management and ecological conservation in watershed regions. The study findings indicate that 29 percent of the watershed area exhibits moderately steep topography with a dendritic flow pattern. The assessment of the normalized difference vegetation index demonstrates that the watershed is comprised of multiple sections abundant in high-density vegetation, primarily dedicated to plantations. Within the Bengkulu watershed area, a total of 49 tree species from 22 families were identified, with diversity indices falling within the moderate category. CONCLUSION: An in-depth knowledge of the ecological factors and plant preservation initiatives in the Bengkulu watershed can greatly aid in sustainable environmental management and help policymakers develop more effective policies for ensuring environmental sustainability. The findings of this study contribute significantly to the Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management's goals of promoting sustainable environmental management and biodiversity preservation, offering actionable insights for policymakers and conservationists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the diverse landscape of rainfall-runoff models, a thorough evaluation of their capabilities and limitations is essential for the selection of an optimal model. This study aims to assess the performance of rainfall-runoff hydrological models in the Malayer watershed. In this study, Rainfall-runoff simulation was carried out using SWAT and IHACRES models and meteorological data from 2005 to 2020. The calibration and validation of the model were done using the SUFI-2 algorithm. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the melting factor, hydraulic conductivity of soil saturation, and snowfall temperature are the most important parameters controlling the flow rate in the study area. The R2 and NS coefficients for SWAT were calculated as 0.68 and 0.65 in the calibration period and 0.63 and 0.70 in the validation period, respectively which in these results showed the SWAT model has suitable efficiency for estimating the watershed flow. Based on the simulation results of the IHACRES model, the values ​​of R2 and NS are 0.66 and 0.58 in the calibration period and 0.52 and 0.51 in the validation period, respectively. Considering that the IHACRES model simulates runoff on a daily scale, the efficiency of the model can be evaluated as acceptable.

Abstract Osteochondral interface consists of two tissues: the calcified cartilage (CC) containing chondrocytes, and subchondral bone (SCB) containing osteocytes that interact with each other. In this study, we propose a new method for the three-dimensional (3D) segmentation of chondrocyte and osteocyte lacunae in CC and SCB from human knees, imaged using high resolution (650 nm) synchrotron radiation phase contrast micro-computed tomography (SR phase contrast micro-CT). Our approach is based on marker-controlled watershed (MCW) algorithm combined with a deep learning method (nnU-Net). We demonstrate that incorporating nnU-Net into the MCW process improves the identification and segmentation of cell lacunae. Using this method, we analyzed a subsample of fifteen cores extracted from the central area of the medial tibial plateaus. Several quantitative parameters (lacunar volume fraction, number density, volume, anisotropy and structure model index of cell lacunae) were measured to compare 10 control and 5 osteoarthritic knees. While no significant differences were observed in chondrocytes, osteocytes showed lower anisotropy (width/depth) and a tendency toward more spherical shapes in the osteoarthritic group compared to the control group. The phase contrast underlying the chondro-osseous border allowed to analyze separately CC from SCB in SR phase contrast micro-CT images. This new method may help to better understand the cellular behavior at the osteochondral interface in osteoarthritis.

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of individual use of a worksheet in analyzing the network of flowing waters in a territory represented on a map and partially known by the students. 16 fourth grade students participated in the study. In the activity, three stages were completed: in the first stage, the students solved a pre-test with 10 True-False items about the flowing waters of the studied territory; in the second stage they solved the tasks in a worksheet based on the analysis of flowing waters represented on the map; in the third stage the students solved a post-test similar to the one in the first stage. The results show that the students, after analyzing the map with the help of the worksheet, in the formative intervention, have a greater volume of knowledge about the running waters of the commune where they live, which proves the effectiveness of this worksheet

Abstract Extreme short-duration rainfall is intensifying with climate warming, and growing evidence suggests that subhourly rainfall extremes are increasing faster than more widely studied durations at hourly and daily timescales. In this case study, we used 55 years (1968–2022) of 5-min precipitation data from Mahantango Creek, a long-term experimental agricultural watershed in east-central Pennsylvania, United States, to examine annual and seasonal changes in subhourly (15-min), hourly, and daily rainfall extremes. Specifically, we evaluated temporal trends in the magnitude and frequency of subhourly, hourly, and daily rainfall extremes. We then estimated apparent scaling rates between rainfall extremes and dew point temperature (Td) and compared these rates to the Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) rate (∼ 7% per °C). We also determined the coincidence of extreme rainfall trends with indicators of atmospheric instability and convective-type precipitation. Overall, we found the most significant changes in rainfall extremes at 15-min durations during the spring, with magnitudes of these subhourly extremes increasing by 0.6 to 0.9% per year, and frequencies rising by 3.4% per year. Apparent scaling rates in the spring showed that 15-min rainfall extremes transitioned from sub-CC scaling to greater than 2CC scaling when Td reached 11° C, implying a possible shift from stratiform rains to more intense convective rains above this Td threshold. Notably, trends in maximum hourly convective available potential energy (CAPE) increased during spring, as did the ratio of 15-min rainfall extremes to their corresponding daily rainfall totals. Findings indicate that convective-type precipitation may be playing an increasing role in the intensification of springtime 15-min rainfall extremes in Mahantango Creek.

Extended Abstract Background: In recent years, changes in climate and land use have led to fluctuations in water resources. These changes have affected the river flow, environment, and drinking and agricultural water. Land use change has four important effects on watersheds, namely changes in peak flow characteristics, changes in total runoff volume, changes in water quality, and changes in hydrological balance. To prevent natural disasters, it is important to identify the current conditions and predict the future situation. Overcoming these crises and reducing their adverse effects are only possible in the shadow of management, planning, and relying on practical knowledge. The present study aimed to determine the impact of climate change and land use on the river flow in the Talar basin between 2020 and 2050. Methods: The effects of future land use, climate changes, and their combined effect in the Talar basin (Mazandaran province) have not been seriously investigated using the sixth climate change report. Therefore, this study analyzed data based on CMIP6 climate change scenarios and land use projections for 2035 and 2050. First, the SWAT model was used to evaluate the effects of climate and land use on the river flow in the Talar River basin. After calibration and validation of the model using the best parameters from 2001 to 2020, CMIP6 data were downscaled based on six models and projected under two scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. The scale of atmospheric general circulation models was reduced using two methods: the delta method and quantile mapping (Qm). These methods were chosen due to the large scale of the models. In this research, the Markov prediction model (CA-Markov) was used to simulate and predict land use changes for the years 2035 and 2050. Precipitation and temperature data obtained from climate change and land use scenarios were entered into the SWAT model to predict the average monthly flow during the years 2020-2035 and 2020-2050. Results: Calibration and validation at the Kiakola station as the output of the Talar watershed showed that the Nash-Sutcliffe index (NSE) had efficiencies of 0.8 and 0.76, respectively. The best values of the validation indices were obtained by the INM model. The Delta method for downscaled precipitation data and the Qm method for downscaled minimum and maximum temperatures showed better evaluation values. For example, the presented tables show that the values of RMSE, NRMSE, and MAE for the rainfall of the Kiakola station are 2.185, 0.0402, and 1.716, respectively, using the Delta method. All these values show the good accuracy of these downscaling methods for SWAT model inputs to predict the streamflow in the Talar River basin. These methods were implemented for all the studied stations, and the downscaled values of the aforementioned parameters were used to predict the streamflow of the Talar River basin at the Kiakola station. Conclusion: The predicted results for 2035 and 2050 show a decrease in the runoff volume, wetlands, and urban land. Therefore, land use activities in the future should be based on appropriate land use development and land use regulation to reduce the long-term adverse effects of land use changes. In the Talar River basin, land use changes are mainly controlled by internal factors, such as agricultural land expansion and urbanization, while climate change is regarded as an external factor. Both have an important role in changing the hydrological processes of the basin. This study evaluates the combined effects of land use and future climate changes on the water balance in the Talar River basin. The combination of land use change and climate change has a more obvious effect on surface runoff. On a monthly scale, runoff from surface runoff decreases significantly across seasons, indicating that more extreme events (i.e., droughts) could potentially occur in the future. With land use changes, these effects can only be reduced by less than 20%. Therefore, more measures (for example, soil conservation) are needed in addition to land use planning to increase infiltration and aquifer nutrition and, subsequently, reduce risks from land use and climate change impacts. This research presents the effects of changes in land use and climate on the available water in the Talar River basin in the future. Furthermore, this paper presents a study on the use of the SWAT model in hydrology to help the scientific field. The findings of this study can also be useful for officials in reducing water stress through proper management of land use in the future. The results indicate that the average monthly streamflow of the Talar River basin has decreased due to land use changes, such as the expansion of urban areas and the reduction of agricultural land. In the future, changes in land use and land cover (LULC) may affect streamflow. The main drivers of LULC changes include agricultural development, deforestation, urban planning, land tenure policy, and organization development.

Abstract The morphometric analysis of the watersheds is essential for the conservation of natural resources, including soil, water, and vegetation. The Morphometric analysis defines the linear, areal and relief aspects of the watershed. It involves the comprehensive analysis of various factors such as drainage network, surface water flow, and other topographical features. The aim of this study is to develop a sustainable watershed management strategy for the Nayar watershed based on morphometry and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change dynamics. The Nayar watershed has a total area of 1956.33 km2. The multispectral satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, and Survey of India (SOI) Toposheets were used for understanding the topographical and morphological characteristics along with the LULC change dynamics. The findings of this research conclude that the Nayar watershed has parallel and dendritic drainage patterns with high relief. According to the LULC change dynamics, the Nayar watershed's area change comprising 57.60 km2 and 57.15 km2, are from Agricultural Land to Wasteland and from Forest Cover to Wasteland, respectively. This shift in the hilly region will increase the risks of landslides and erosion. Furthermore, the change of 110.03 km2 area of Forest Cover to Agricultural Land raises further challenges due to loss of natural vegetation in long run. In summary the change in LULC of Nayar watershed is vulnerable to risk of natural calamities like landslide, erosion. This work would be helpful to many experts and decision-makers for sustainable watershed management and natural resource management.

Understanding the spatial structure and diversity of fish communities in urban environments is crucial for effective conservation and management. Our study investigates the complexity and spatial structuring of fish communities across urbanized watersheds and waterfronts in the Toronto region. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors, including habitat, human impact, and species traits, on fish community composition. Specifically, we identify distinct groups based on sampling locations using modularity analysis and partial least square path modeling (PLS-PM). Our results reveal three distinct fish community groups. The first group, primarily located in major watersheds such as Humber and Rouge, is characterized by lower human impact and larger tracts of less developed land, where habitat variables like water quality play a significant role. These areas support species with intermediate tolerance levels to disturbances. The second group includes diverse waterfront and nearshore habitats, where high species richness and variability are influenced by varied environmental conditions and riparian zones, with limited urban impact. The third group, encompassing some of the more urbanized areas, faces the constraints of urbanization and a high density of instream barriers, resulting in lower species diversity and a dominance of disturbance-tolerant species. Our findings highlight how different urban environments shape fish communities based on available habitat in interaction with species traits. This underscores the importance of tailored urban watershed management strategies based on urbanization levels and habitat constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is widely predicted that climate change’s adverse effects will intensify in the future, and along with inadequate agricultural practices, settlement development, and other anthropic activities, could contribute to rapid wetland degradation and thus exert significant negative effects on local communities. This study sought to develop an approach based on the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in the Ruzizi Plain, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where adverse effects of the climate change are increasingly recurrent. Initially, we analyzed the trends of climate data for the last three decades (1990–2022). Subsequently, the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) approach was employed on two contrasting watersheds to estimate current and future water demands in the region and how local wetlands could serve as reservoirs to meeting water demands. Results indicate that the Ruzizi Plain is facing escalating water challenges owing to climate change, rapid population growth, and evolving land-use patterns. These factors are expected to affect water quality and quantity, and thus, increase pressure on wetland ecosystems. The analysis of past data shows recurrence of dry years (SPI ≤ − 1.5), reduced daily low-intensity rainfall (Pmm

Background Excess nitrogen (N) loading to coastal ecosystems impairs estuarine water quality. Land management decisions made within estuarine watersheds have a direct impact on downstream N delivery. Natural features within watersheds can act as landscape sinks for N, such as wetlands, streams and ponds that transform dissolved N into gaseous N, effectively removing it from the aquatic system. Identifying and evaluating these landscape sinks and their spatial relationship to N sources can help managers understand the effects of alternative decisions on downstream resources. Methods The N-Sink approach uses widely available GIS data to identify landscape sinks within HUC-12 (or larger) catchments, estimate their N removal potential and map the effect of those sinks on N movement through the catchment. Static maps are produced to visualize N removal efficiency, transport and delivery, the latter in the form of an index. The R package nsink was developed to facilitate data acquisition, processing and visualization. Results nsink creates static maps for a specific HUC-12, or users can visit the University of Connecticut website to explore previously mapped areas. Users can investigate specific flowpaths interactively by clicking on any location within the catchment. A flowpath is generated with a table describing N removal along each segment. We describe the motivation behind developing nsink, discuss implementation in R, and present two use case examples. nsink is available from https://github.com/USEPA/nsink. Conclusions N-Sink is a decision support tool created for local decision-makers and NGOs to facilitate better understanding of the relationship between land use and downstream N delivery. Local decision-makers that have prioritized N mitigation in their long-term planning can use nsink to better understand the potential impact of proposed development projects, zoning variances, and land acquisition or restoration. nsink also allows resource economists to investigate the tradeoffs among different, often costly, N reduction strategies.

The nitrate--nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration is a key variable affecting the ecosystem services supported by headwater streams. The availability of such data monitored continuously at a high frequency (in parallel to hydrometric and other water quality data) potentially permits a greater insight into the dynamics of this key variable. This study demonstrates how single-input single-output (SISO) system identification tools can make better use of these high-frequency data to identify a reduced number of numerical characteristics that support new explanatory hypotheses of rain-driven NO3-N dynamics. A second-order watershed managed for commercial forestry in upland Wales (United Kingdom) provided the illustrative data. Fifteen-minute rainfall time series were used to simulate NO3-N concentration dynamics and the potentially associated dynamics in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and runoff, monitored at the same high resolution for two 30-day periods with a differing temperature regime. The approach identified robust, high-efficiency models needing few parameters. Comparison of only three derived dynamic response characteristics (DRCs) of δ, TC, and SSG for the three variables for the two different periods led to new hypotheses of rain-driven NO3-N dynamics for further exploratory field investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely predicted that climate change's adverse effects will intensify in the future, and along with inadequate agricultural practices, settlement development, and other anthropic activities, could contribute to rapid wetland degradation and thus exert significant negative effects on local communities. This study sought to develop an approach based on the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in the Ruzizi Plain, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where adverse effects of the climate change are increasingly recurrent. Initially, we analyzed the trends of climate data for the last three decades (1990–2022). Subsequently, the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) approach was employed on two contrasting watersheds to estimate current and future water demands in the region and how local wetlands could serve as reservoirs to meeting water demands. Results indicate that the Ruzizi Plain is facing escalating water challenges owing to climate change, rapid population growth, and evolving land-use patterns. These factors are expected to affect water quality and quantity, and thus, increase pressure on wetland ecosystems. The analysis of past data shows recurrence of dry years (SPI ≤ − 1.5), reduced daily low-intensity rainfall (Pmm < 10 mm), and a significant increase in extreme rainfall events (Pmm ≥ 25 mm). The WEAP outcomes revealed significant variations in future water availability, demand, and potential stressors across watersheds. Cropland and livestock are the main water consumers in rural wetlands, while households, cropland (at a lesser extent), and other urban uses exert significant water demands on wetlands located in urban environments. Of three test scenarios, the one presenting wetlands as water reservoirs seemed promising than those considered optimal (based on policies regulating water use) and rational (stationary inputs but with a decrease in daily allocation). These findings highlight the impact of climate change in the Ruzizi plain, emphasizing the urgency of implementing adaptive measures. This study advocates for the necessity of the IWRM approach to enhance water resilience, fostering sustainable development and wetland preservation under changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous water treatment practices play a vital role, yet they remain underrecognized, in securing access to safe drinking water for rural communities across East Africa. This article performs a mini‐review of the most common traditional techniques used by most East African communities to purify drinking water regularly. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have been taken as representative countries in the region as they somehow share many social‐cultural aspects, including a common language (Swahili), transboundary tribes like Maasai (Kenya/Tanzania), and Bahaya (Uganda/Tanzania). The four main traditional water purification techniques identified: filtration using locally available media, solar disinfection, Moringa coagulation, and boiling as well as improved storage. Case studies documenting the effectiveness of these indigenous practices in removing microbial pathogens and meeting WHO guidelines are also examined. However, limitations around reliance on local resources, labor demands, hygiene risks, and the inability to consistently achieve standards challenge wider adoption. The article concludes by highlighting the need for participatory optimization of traditional methods through integration with scientific expertise in a manner respecting local contexts. With proper support, these grassroots innovations can strengthen household water security on a sustainable basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The seasonal behavior of fluvial dissolved silica (DSi) concentrations, termed DSi regime, mediates the timing of DSi delivery to downstream waters and thus governs river biogeochemical function and aquatic community condition. Previous work identified five distinct DSi regimes across rivers spanning the Northern Hemisphere, with many rivers exhibiting multiple DSi regimes over time. Several potential drivers of DSi regime behavior have been identified at small scales, including climate, land cover, and lithology, and yet the large‐scale spatiotemporal controls on DSi regimes have not been identified. We evaluate the role of environmental variables on the behavior of DSi regimes in nearly 200 rivers across the Northern Hemisphere using random forest models. Our models aim to elucidate the controls that give rise to (a) average DSi regime behavior, (b) interannual variability in DSi regime behavior (i.e., Annual DSi regime), and (c) controls on DSi regime shape (i.e., minimum and maximum DSi concentrations). Average DSi regime behavior across the period of record was classified accurately 59% of the time, whereas Annual DSi regime behavior was classified accurately 80% of the time. Climate and primary productivity variables were important in predicting Average DSi regime behavior, whereas climate and hydrologic variables were important in predicting Annual DSi regime behavior. Median nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were important drivers of minimum and maximum DSi concentrations, indicating that these macronutrients may be important for seasonal DSi drawdown and rebound. Our findings demonstrate that fluctuations in climate, hydrology, and nutrient availability of rivers shape the temporal availability of fluvial DSi. Plain Language Summary: The amount of dissolved silicon (DSi) in rivers is an important control on numerous ecological and biogeochemical processes, such as types of algae that bloom and rates of carbon sequestration. Compared to our knowledge of other nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, we have limited understanding of what controls the timing and concentration of DSi in rivers. Previous work identified five distinct seasonal patterns of DSi concentrations in rivers across the Northern Hemisphere; here we look at the environmental variables that control these seasonal patterns. We found that rivers often have one to five seasonal patterns over time due to interannual shifts in temperature, evapotranspiration, and streamflow. In addition, we found that the average shape of the seasonal pattern for a given river, specifically minimum and maximum DSi concentrations, was related to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, highlighting linkages between N, P, and DSi cycling in rivers. This work identifies why river DSi concentrations exhibit both within and between year variability, highlighting that temperature, streamflow, and nutrient availability control the timing of river DSi availability for biological uptake. Key Points: Seasonal variations in annual riverine dissolved silica concentrations (DSi regime) were correctly classified 80% of the timeClimate and primary productivity emerge as the most important drivers in differentiating among average DSi regimesMedian nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations strongly predicted minimum and maximum DSi concentration, regardless of regime type [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Tucumán, environmental scientists and authorities have long considered river pollution caused by the sugar industry to be a priority issue for research and management. However, little is known about how local communities perceive and relate to this issue and these environments. To obtain a more comprehensive understanding, we conducted 401 surveys in four localities to investigate the social perceptions of rivers affected by the sugar industry, utilizing the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to structure this sociocultural assessment. There was a broad recognition of rivers’ importance by 87% of respondents, but 44% reported that they do not visit them, reflecting a disconnect with these environments. Additionally, the community conceives rivers in “good condition” (state) based mostly on aesthetic aspects of the water, rather than health or ecosystem considerations. Overall, rivers were perceived negatively; problems (drivers, pressures) were perceived more than contributions (impacts). Although most (56%) respondents identified sugar industry pollution as “very important,” it ranked third, after other environmental and social pressures. Contributions of rivers that impact people’s well-being were valued lower, and only construction materials, water for animals, recreational spaces, and food were considered “somewhat important.” The majority (> 65%) did not identify rivers as important for energy generation or drinking water. Finally, 42% of the community was unaware of existing environmental public policies aimed at addressing river degradation. These social perceptions of Tucumán’s rivers and their management reveal both similarities and differences between expert-driven, ecological knowledge and society’s relationships with these rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the effects of land use/land cover (LULC) and demographical changes on runoff and erosion processes in the watersheds of border highlands in Serbia. It provides an interdisciplinary approach, linking demography (human geography) with physical geography (hydrology and geomorphology). (A) A predominant decrease in curve number (CN), a key hydrological indicator, is recorded in more than 20 watersheds in Eastern and Southeastern Serbia, largely due to continuous depopulation and abandonment of arable land over recent decades. In contrast, minor CN changes are dominant in over 10 watersheds in Western and Southwestern Serbia. (B) Through cluster analysis, four regions are spatially delineated by changes in four key indicators: runoff, soil erosion, agricultural land use, and rural population. Soil erosion change is correlated with the deagrarianisation and depopulation processes at a significance of p < 0.0001 with r = 0.580 and r = 0.629, respectively. The border watersheds are being studied for the first time using a complex approach that analyses the relationships between changes in demography, land use, surface runoff, and soil erosion. The study results contribute to a better understanding of sustainable land management and risk management in the hilly and mountainous border regions, which are particularly vulnerable to torrential flooding and soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and ecosystem service models are frequently used to consider current conditions or recent changes in the availability of a service. The application of scenarios for biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment remains underdeveloped, particularly co-designed and fine-granular scenarios across different decision-making boundaries. Consequently, the data created by these modeling efforts may not be as valuable to conservation partners and policy makers. In this project, we used land use and land cover change scenarios co-developed with local and regional decision-makers in northwestern Virginia USA as key inputs for 18 different biodiversity and ecosystem service models. Specifically, we used the InVEST suite of models to predict the change in biodiversity and ecosystem indicators and evaluated differences in that change between scenarios and decision-making boundaries. We found that the scenarios produced distinct results for the majority of biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially as a function of population growth. However, we also found that some services varied more as a function of subregions reflecting the existing diversity of ecosystems and governance structures in the area. The co-designed scenarios and summary of the data across units resulted in the production of varied results that can be used to support land use planning by implementing partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the topic of large-scale dam removal and its impact on ecosystems. It emphasizes the importance of rivers in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. The article highlights the need for more research and monitoring efforts to understand the outcomes of dam removal projects, as most studies have focused on smaller structures. The research presented in the article covers various aspects of dam removal, including ecology, water quality, fish populations, terrestrial ecology, and the social and economic aspects of restoration. The article concludes by acknowledging the complexity of dam removal and the need for further research to fully understand the long-term effects of restoration efforts. [Extracted from the article]

The present study aims to develop a protocol for determining the suitability of ponds in Nuh watershed, Haryana, India, using hydrological zoning, analytic hierarchy process, weighted overlay approach and geospatial techniques. Maximum area is in moderate and low run-off zones, with 50.43% and 32.4% of the area covering 104 and 129 ponds respectively. Area under least, moderate, high suitable zones are 33.2%, 51.92% and 11.38% respectively. Also, 137 more ponds are proposed, with 2, 49 and 86 ponds having very high, high and moderate suitable zones respectively. If these 472 ponds are revived, additional areas can be brought under irrigation in the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two years of monthly sampling and hydrological monitoring were performed at the outlet of a Mediterranean watershed in northern Tunisia to determine the contents of 469 pesticide active ingredients and metabolites in water and evaluate their behavior. Wadi Guenniche is a tributary of the Bizerte coastal lagoon, with a watershed area of 86 km2, which exhibits pluvial cereal, legume, and orchid cultivation and irrigated market gardening. Twenty-nine pesticide active ingredients and 2 metabolites were detected in water. Twenty-four pesticide active ingredients were authorized for use in Tunisia. Among them, 14 had never been mentioned in previous farmer surveys. Five herbicides and their metabolites were the most frequently detected: aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) (100%), glyphosate (94%), simazine (94%), 2,4-D (70%), and deisopropylatrazine (DIA) (47%). The detection frequency and concentration range suggested that the phytosanitary pressure and resulting water contamination are close to those on the northern Mediterranean shore. These results, in addition to characterizing the pollution state, emphasized the need for additional studies on the use and fate of pesticides on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strengthening community engagement in stewardship can help to improve management of coastal and freshwater environments (blue spaces). Research suggests that recreational users of natural areas may be more willing to engage in stewardship. However, little research at a population scale has examine how recreation experiences shape psychological ingredients for stewardship.We surveyed 3271 residents of South East Queensland, Australia and quantified willingness to engage in blue space stewardship. We then quantified frequency of different types of blue space recreation, perceptions about threats to blue spaces (threat appraisal) and protective actions (coping appraisal), and satisfaction with blue spaces. We then examined pathways from recreation to stewardship intentions using mediation analysis.Results show that many types of recreation were associated with stewardship intentions. Specifically, higher frequency of social activities and nature‐appreciation activities were associated with greater intentions for individual stewardship (e.g. picking up litter, reducing use of household chemicals). Higher frequency of social activities, nature appreciation, exercise and fishing/boating was associated with stronger intentions for collective stewardship (e.g. attending a public meeting or riparian management event)Mediation analysis showed that most forms of recreation did not influence perceptions about severity of threats to blue spaces. Rather, the relationships between recreation and stewardship were mediated by greater place satisfaction, perceived vulnerability to blue space degradation, and feeling more able to contribute to waterway protection (efficacy).These findings indicate that many types of recreation (not just nature appreciation activities) can be a foundation for engaging in nature stewardship, and reinforce the importance of building efficacy when promoting stewardship. The finding that both place satisfaction and perceived vulnerability to environmental degradation suggests that there may be an optimal motivational window for stewardship: people need to connect a place with positive experiences, and have some recognition of a potential threat, but where the potential threat has not yet eroded the natural values of a place. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payments for ecosystem services have recently been introduced into the ecosystem management landscape to counter ecosystem degradation. This study examines the experiences of sustainable use and management of watersheds using a compensation for ecosystem service model in the Koga watershed, Northern Ethiopia. The study primarily employed qualitative methods. Thirteen informants, chosen from a group of project implementers, were contacted for telephone interviews, and a document analysis was also conducted. Thematic approaches were employed to analysis the data. The study findings revealed that a project had been introduced to implement an innovative payment/compensation for ecosystem services (CES) scheme to manage watersheds and to alleviate poverty in the watershed. The scheme connected upstream and downstream communities and cooperatives through CES, earning praise for its effectiveness in combating dam siltation and watershed degradation. The initiative also established various enabling conditions, such as capacity building, bylaw formulation, and payment procedures for beneficiary communities. However, the CES scheme still has a long way to go to deliver the anticipated positive impacts on local livelihoods and watershed management. It is believed that a comprehensive legal framework, a stable political and social environment, and sustainable financing mechanisms are crucial for the success of any CES project. Therefore, Ethiopia should strive to meet these requirements to ensure that any future CES projects are designed and implemented sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a dermatological condition characterized by depigmentation of the skin, resulting from the loss of melanocytes. Automatic image analysis methods are essential for diagnosing vitiligo and tracking its development. Because it is good at defining object boundaries, watershed segmentation is a frequently used technique for segmenting medical images. However, traditional watershed segmentation may produce oversegmentation and under-segmentation issues in vitiligo images due to their complex and irregular patterns. This research paper proposes a modified watershed segmentation approach tailored specifically for vitiligo image analysis. The proposed method incorporates pre-processing steps to enhance image contrast and reduce noise, followed by a novel marker-based watershed segmentation algorithm. In this algorithm, markers are strategically placed based on local intensity and texture features to guide the segmentation process and improve boundary delineation. Annotated ground truth images from a collection of vitiligo images are used to assess the effectiveness of the suggested technique. Several quantitative indicators, including accuracy, the Jaccard index, and the Dice similarity coefficient, are used to compare the segmentation outcomes produced by the suggested method with those produced by advanced techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that the modified watershed segmentation method outperforms existing approaches in accurately segmenting vitiligo lesions while minimizing over-segmentation and undersegmentation errors. The proposed method shows promising potential for aiding dermatologists in diagnosing and monitoring vitiligo progression, facilitating timely treatment interventions, and improving patient confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the long term impacts of watershed management interventions and scenarios on sediment export reduction in the data-scarce region of the Yezat watershed in north-west Ethiopia. The modified ecosystem services valuation model (InVEST) was employed to evaluate the amount of sediment export in the watershed. Different watershed management intervention scenarios were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of watershed management interventions on sediment export reduction. The results of the study showed that the mean annual sediment yield was 35 tons ha yr in 20000, due to the expansion of cultivated land and built-up area. Conversely, it decreased from 35 ton ha yr in 2000 -18.4 ton ha yr in 2021 due to watershed management interventions. On the contrary, moderate, severe, and very severe categories of sediment export intensity were high in 2000. But it decreased in 2021 due to watershed management interventions. The mean annual sediment export in the baseline scenario (BS) was 35 tons per year, which was reduced to 13.39 tons per year, 3.46 tons per year, and 1.17 tons per year in the reforestation scenario, soil/stone bund, and integrated scenarios, respectively. The result revealed that areas covered by high sediment severity classes were reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an approach to the assessment of the environmental impact of a dam construction for agricultural use in the Boutheldja region. This region's environment is rich in natural resources and forms a part of the El Kala National Park (P.N.E.K). It was designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention by UNESCO in 1983 and later declared a biosphere reserve in 1990. It is among the most significant aquatic areas in this region (contains about 40% of surface water resources). The physical characteristics of the watershed support the construction of the dam, although there could be a number of unfavorable effects: upstream -- including soil erosion and reservoir sedimentation, reduced storage capacity, lower water quality and loss of productivity of flooded area; downstream -- removal of silt from downstream flows, loss of fertilising functions, changes in water quality, changes in productivity, reduction in natural floods, loss of access to resources and ecological disturbance. Such processes will have an impact on an ecosystem so fragile. Although Boukhroufa dam provides significant benefits to the city, such as controlling stream regime, preventing floods, and supplying agricultural water from stored water, it also has significant negative effects on the surrounding watershed ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, changes in climate and land use have led to fluctuations in water resources. These changes have affected the river flow, environment, and drinking and agricultural water. Land use change has four important effects on watersheds, namely changes in peak flow characteristics, changes in total runoff volume, changes in water quality, and changes in hydrological balance. To prevent natural disasters, it is important to identify the current conditions and predict the future situation. Overcoming these crises and reducing their adverse effects are only possible in the shadow of management, planning, and relying on practical knowledge. The present study aimed to determine the impact of climate change and land use on the river flow in the Talar basin between 2020 and 2050. Methods: The effects of future land use, climate changes, and their combined effect in the Talar basin (Mazandaran province) have not been seriously investigated using the sixth climate change report. Therefore, this study analyzed data based on CMIP6 climate change scenarios and land use projections for 2035 and 2050. First, the SWAT model was used to evaluate the effects of climate and land use on the river flow in the Talar River basin. After calibration and validation of the model using the best parameters from 2001 to 2020, CMIP6 data were downscaled based on six models and projected under two scenarios SSP2 -4.5 and SSP5 -8.5. The scale of atmospheric general circulation models was reduced using two methods: the delta method and quantile mapping (Qm). These methods were chosen due to the large scale of the models. In this research, the Markov prediction model (CA -Markov) was used to simulate and predict land use changes for the years 2035 and 2050. Precipitation and temperature data obtained from climate change and land use scenarios were entered into the SWAT model to predict the average monthly flow during the years 2020 -2035 and 2020 -2050. Results: Calibration and validation at the Kiakola station as the output of the Talar watershed showed that the Nash -Sutcliffe index (NSE) had efficiencies of 0.8 and 0.76, respectively. The best values of the validation indices were obtained by the INM model. The Delta method for downscaled precipitation data and the Qm method for downscaled minimum and maximum temperatures showed better evaluation values. For example, the presented tables show that the values of RMSE, NRMSE, and MAE for the rainfall of the Kiakola station are 2.185, 0.0402, and 1.716, respectively, using the Delta method. All these values show the good accuracy of these downscaling methods for SWAT model inputs to predict the streamflow in the Talar River basin. These methods were implemented for all the studied stations, and the downscaled values of the aforementioned parameters were used to predict the streamflow of the Talar River basin at the Kiakola station. Conclusion: The predicted results for 2035 and 2050 show a decrease in the runoff volume, wetlands, and urban land. Therefore, land use activities in the future should be based on appropriate land use development and land use regulation to reduce the long -term adverse effects of land use changes. In the Talar River basin, land use changes are mainly controlled by internal factors, such as agricultural land expansion and urbanization, while climate change is regarded as an external factor. Both have an important role in changing the hydrological processes of the basin. This study evaluates the combined effects of land use and future climate changes on the water balance in the Talar River basin. The combination of land use change and climate change has a more obvious effect on surface runoff. On a monthly scale, runoff from surface runoff decreases significantly across seasons, indicating that more extreme events (i.e., droughts) could potentially occur in the future. With land use changes, these effects can only be reduced by less than 20%. Therefore, more measures (for example, soil conservation) are needed in addition to land use planning to increase infiltration and aquifer nutrition and, subsequently, reduce risks from land use and climate change impacts. This research presents the effects of changes in land use and climate on the available water in the Talar River basin in the future. Furthermore, this paper presents a study on the use of the SWAT model in hydrology to help the scientific field. The findings of this study can also be useful for officials in reducing water stress through proper management of land use in the future. The results indicate that the average monthly streamflow of the Talar River basin has decreased due to land use changes, such as the expansion of urban areas and the reduction of agricultural land. In the future, changes in land use and land cover (LULC) may affect streamflow. The main drivers of LULC changes include agricultural development, deforestation, urban planning, land tenure policy, and organization development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]