Articles | Volume 23, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3945-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3945-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
25 Sep 2019
Research article |
| 25 Sep 2019
| 25 Sep 2019
A watershed classification approach that looks beyond hydrology: application to a semi-arid, agricultural region in Canada
Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Kevin R. Shook
Centre for Hydrology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Chris Spence
National Hydrology Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change
Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Colin J. Whitfield
Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Related authors
No articles found.
Anthony A. P. Baron, Helen M. Baulch, Ali Nazemi, and Colin J. Whitfield
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1449–1468, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1449-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1449-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We aimed to understand how climate variability and flow management affected the water quality of a key drinking water source. Our focus was on dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and our work demonstrated that DOC can change rapidly, reaching high concentrations in wet periods, when flow sources are dominated by the local catchment. Results indicate that the impacts of high local flow and low inflows from managed sources are compounding water quality challenges, creating issues for water treatment.
Zhihua He, Kevin Shook, Christopher Spence, John W. Pomeroy, and Colin Whitfield
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3525–3546, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3525-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3525-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study evaluated the impacts of climate change on snowmelt, soil moisture, and streamflow over the Canadian Prairies. The entire prairie region was divided into seven basin types. We found strong variations of hydrological sensitivity to precipitation and temperature changes in different land covers and basins, which suggests that different water management and adaptation methods are needed to address enhanced water stress due to expected climate change in different regions of the prairies.
Christopher Spence, Zhihua He, Kevin R. Shook, John W. Pomeroy, Colin J. Whitfield, and Jared D. Wolfe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5555–5575, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5555-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5555-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We learnt how streamflow from small creeks could be altered by wetland removal in the Canadian Prairies, where this practice is pervasive. Every creek basin in the region was placed into one of seven groups. We selected one of these groups and used its traits to simulate streamflow. The model worked well enough so that we could trust the results even if we removed the wetlands. Wetland removal did not change low flow amounts very much, but it doubled high flow and tripled average flow.
Christopher Spence, Zhihua He, Kevin R. Shook, Balew A. Mekonnen, John W. Pomeroy, Colin J. Whitfield, and Jared D. Wolfe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1801–1819, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1801-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1801-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We determined how snow and flow in small creeks change with temperature and precipitation in the Canadian Prairie, a region where water resources are often under stress. We tried something new. Every watershed in the region was placed in one of seven groups based on their landscape traits. We selected one of these groups and used its traits to build a model of snow and streamflow. It worked well, and by the 2040s there may be 20 %–40 % less snow and 30 % less streamflow than the 1980s.
Chris M. DeBeer, Howard S. Wheater, John W. Pomeroy, Alan G. Barr, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Jill F. Johnstone, Merritt R. Turetsky, Ronald E. Stewart, Masaki Hayashi, Garth van der Kamp, Shawn Marshall, Elizabeth Campbell, Philip Marsh, Sean K. Carey, William L. Quinton, Yanping Li, Saman Razavi, Aaron Berg, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, Christopher Spence, Warren D. Helgason, Andrew M. Ireson, T. Andrew Black, Mohamed Elshamy, Fuad Yassin, Bruce Davison, Allan Howard, Julie M. Thériault, Kevin Shook, Michael N. Demuth, and Alain Pietroniro
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1849–1882, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1849-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1849-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This article examines future changes in land cover and hydrological cycling across the interior of western Canada under climate conditions projected for the 21st century. Key insights into the mechanisms and interactions of Earth system and hydrological process responses are presented, and this understanding is used together with model application to provide a synthesis of future change. This has allowed more scientifically informed projections than have hitherto been available.
Jeffrey M. McKenzie, Barret L. Kurylyk, Michelle A. Walvoord, Victor F. Bense, Daniel Fortier, Christopher Spence, and Christophe Grenier
The Cryosphere, 15, 479–484, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-479-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-479-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Groundwater is an underappreciated catalyst of environmental change in a warming Arctic. We provide evidence of how changing groundwater systems underpin surface changes in the north, and we argue for research and inclusion of cryohydrogeology, the study of groundwater in cold regions.
Edward K. P. Bam, Rosa Brannen, Sujata Budhathoki, Andrew M. Ireson, Chris Spence, and Garth van der Kamp
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 553–563, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-553-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-553-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The paper highlights the data contained in the database for the Prairie research site, St. Denis National Wildlife Research Area, at Saskatchewan, Canada. The database includes atmosphere, snow surveys, pond, soil, groundwater, and water isotopes collected on an intermittent basis between 1968 and 2018. The metadata table provides location information, information about the full range of measurements carried out on each parameter, and GPS locations relevant for interpretation of the data.
Umarporn Charusombat, Ayumi Fujisaki-Manome, Andrew D. Gronewold, Brent M. Lofgren, Eric J. Anderson, Peter D. Blanken, Christopher Spence, John D. Lenters, Chuliang Xiao, Lindsay E. Fitzpatrick, and Gregory Cutrell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5559–5578, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5559-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5559-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The authors evaluated several algorithms of heat loss and evaporation simulation by comparing with direct measurements at four offshore flux towers in the North American Great Lakes. The algorithms reproduced the seasonal cycle of heat loss and evaporation reasonably, but some algorithms significantly overestimated them during fall to early winter. This was due to false assumption of roughness length scales for temperature and humidity and was improved by employing a correct parameterization.
Christopher Spence and Newell Hedstrom
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 1753–1767, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1753-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1753-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This dataset documents physiographic and hydrometeorological conditions from 2003 to 2016 in the 155 km2 Baker Creek Research Watershed in Canada's Northwest Territories. Half-hourly hydrometeorological data were collected over several land cover types. The dataset includes streamflow, ground temperature, soil moisture, and spring maximum snow depth and water content. These data are unique in this remote region and provide scientific and engineering communities data to advance understanding.
Katheryn Burd, Suzanne E. Tank, Nicole Dion, William L. Quinton, Christopher Spence, Andrew J. Tanentzap, and David Olefeldt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4455–4472, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4455-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4455-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we investigated whether climate change and wildfires are likely to alter water quality of streams in western boreal Canada, a region that contains large permafrost-affected peatlands. We monitored stream discharge and water quality from early snowmelt to fall in two streams, one of which drained a recently burned landscape. Wildfire increased the stream delivery of phosphorous and possibly increased the release of old natural organic matter previously stored in permafrost soils.
José-Luis Guerrero, Patricia Pernica, Howard Wheater, Murray Mackay, and Chris Spence
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6345–6362, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6345-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6345-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Lakes are sentinels of climate change, and an adequate characterization of their feedbacks to the atmosphere could improve climate modeling. These feedbacks, as heat fluxes, can be simulated but are seldom measured, casting doubt on modeling results. Measurements from a small lake in Canada established that the model parameter modulating how much light penetrates the lake dominates model response. This parameter is measurable: improved monitoring could lead to more robust modeling.
Christopher Spence and Samson Girma Mengistu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-252, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-252, 2017
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
This research summarizes the application of a hydrological model to determine the relationships between streamflow and the area that contributes water to it. The model performed well. Results show that the frequency of streamflow events and with which areas contribute are not necessarily the same. There are implications from this research for determining the sources of water and nutrients available downstream in lakes vulnerable to eutrophication.
Related subject area
Subject: Water Resources Management | Techniques and Approaches: Theory development
Synchronization frequency analysis and stochastic simulation of multi-site flood flows based on the complicated vine copula structure
Phosphorus transport in a hotter and drier climate: in-channel release of legacy phosphorus during summer low-flow conditions
Interdecadal Cycles in Australian Annual Rainfall
Guiding community discussions on human–water challenges by serious gaming in the upper Ewaso Ngiro River basin, Kenya
Levee system transformation in coevolution between humans and water systems along the Kiso River, Japan
Reframing water demand management: a new co-governance framework coupling supply-side and demand-side solutions toward sustainability
HESS Opinions: The unsustainable use of groundwater conceals a “Day Zero”
Water productivity is in the eye of the beholder: benchmarking the multiple values produced by water use in the Phoenix metropolitan area
HESS Opinions: Drought impacts as failed prospects
Drought intensity–duration–frequency curves based on deficit in precipitation and streamflow for water resources management
Uncertainty in three dimensions: the challenges of communicating probabilistic flood forecast maps
To which extent are socio-hydrology studies truly integrative? The case of natural hazards and disaster research
Power and empowerment in transdisciplinary research: a negotiated approach for peri-urban groundwater problems in the Ganges Delta
A socio-hydrological framework for understanding conflict and cooperation with respect to transboundary rivers
A review of the applicability of the motivations and abilities (MOTA) framework for assessing the implementation success of water resources management plans and policies
Social dilemmas and poor water quality in household water systems
The limits to large-scale supply augmentation: exploring the crossroads of conflicting urban water system development pathways
Structural gaps of water resources knowledge in global river basins
Water sharing policies conditioned on hydrologic variability to inform reservoir operations
Characteristics of droughts in Argentina's core crop region
Quantifying the impacts of compound extremes on agriculture
Comparison of published palaeoclimate records suitable for reconstructing annual to sub-decadal hydroclimatic variability in eastern Australia: implications for water resource management and planning
Unraveling intractable water conflicts: the entanglement of science and politics in decision-making on large hydraulic infrastructure
A Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach for conducting trade-off analysis: Morocco's phosphate industry in the Khouribga region
Role-play simulations as an aid to achieve complex learning outcomes in hydrological science
Using a coupled agent-based modeling approach to analyze the role of risk perception in water management decisions
Geostatistical interpolation by quantile kriging
Flooded by jargon: how the interpretation of water-related terms differs between hydrology experts and the general audience
Challenges to implementing bottom-up flood risk decision analysis frameworks: how strong are social networks of flooding professionals?
Socio-hydrological spaces in the Jamuna River floodplain in Bangladesh
An improved method for calculating the regional crop water footprint based on a hydrological process analysis
How downstream sub-basins depend on upstream inflows to avoid scarcity: typology and global analysis of transboundary rivers
An alternative approach for socio-hydrology: case study research
HESS Opinions: A conceptual framework for assessing socio-hydrological resilience under change
Socio-hydrological perspectives of the co-evolution of humans and groundwater in Cangzhou, North China Plain
Towards systematic planning of small-scale hydrological intervention-based research
Geoscience on television: a review of science communication literature in the context of geosciences
A "mental models" approach to the communication of subsurface hydrology and hazards
Review and classification of indicators of green water availability and scarcity
Socio-hydrological water balance for water allocation between human and environmental purposes in catchments
Long-term monitoring of nitrate transport to drainage from three agricultural clayey till fields
Complex network theory, streamflow, and hydrometric monitoring system design
Hydrological drought types in cold climates: quantitative analysis of causing factors and qualitative survey of impacts
Linked hydrologic and social systems that support resilience of traditional irrigation communities
Assessing blue and green water utilisation in wheat production of China from the perspectives of water footprint and total water use
A new framework for resolving conflicts over transboundary rivers using bankruptcy methods
Quantifying the human impact on water resources: a critical review of the water footprint concept
Endogenous change: on cooperation and water availability in two ancient societies
Socio-hydrology and the science–policy interface: a case study of the Saskatchewan River basin
Relationships between environmental governance and water quality in a growing metropolitan area of the Pacific Northwest, USA
Xinting Yu, Yue-Ping Xu, Yuxue Guo, Siwei Chen, and Haiting Gu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 179–214, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-179-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-179-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study introduces a new method to simplify complex vine copula structures by reducing dimensionality while retaining essential data. Applied to Shifeng Creek, the vine copula built with this method captured critical spatial–temporal relationships, indicating high synchronization probabilities and flood risks. Notably, it was found that increasing structure complexity does not always improve accuracy. This method offers an efficient tool for analyzing and simulating multi-site flows.
Christine L. Dolph, Jacques C. Finlay, Brent Dalzell, and Gary W. Feyereisen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5249–5294, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5249-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5249-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
“Legacy phosphorus” is the accumulation of phosphorus (P) in soils and sediments due to past inputs from fertilizer, manure, urban runoff, and wastewater. The release of this P from where it is stored in the landscape can cause poor water quality. Here, we examined whether legacy P is being released from stream and river channels in summer across a large number of watersheds, and we examined what factors (such as climate, land use, and soil types) might be driving that release.
Tobias F. Selkirk, Andrew W. Western, and J. Angus Webb
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3149, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3149, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigated rainfall in eastern Australia to search for patterns that may aid in predicting flood and drought. The current popular consensus is that such cycles do not exist. We analysed 130 years of rainfall using a very modern technique for identifying cycles in complex signals. The results showed strong evidence for three clear cycles of 12.9, 20.4 and 29.1 years with a confidence of 99.99 %. When combined, they showed an 80 % alignment to years of extremely high and low rainfall.
Charles Nduhiu Wamucii, Pieter R. van Oel, Adriaan J. Teuling, Arend Ligtenberg, John Mwangi Gathenya, Gert Jan Hofstede, Meine van Noordwijk, and Erika N. Speelman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3495–3518, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3495-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3495-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The study explored the role of serious gaming in strengthening stakeholder engagement in addressing human–water challenges. The gaming approach guided community discussions toward implementable decisions. The results showed increased active participation, knowledge gain, and use of plural pronouns. We observed decreased individual interests and conflicts among game participants. The study presents important implications for creating a collective basis for water resources management.
Shinichiro Nakamura, Fuko Nakai, Yuichiro Ito, Ginga Okada, and Taikan Oki
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2329–2342, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2329-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2329-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The formation of levee systems is an important factor in determining whether a society fights or adapts to floods. This study presents the levee system transformation process over the past century, from the indigenous levee system to modern continuous levees, and its impacts on human–flood coevolution in the Kiso River basin, Japan, and reveals the interactions between levee systems and human–water systems involving different scales and water phenomena.
Yueyi Liu, Hang Zheng, and Jianshi Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2223–2238, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2223-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2223-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Global climate change is causing some previously arid regions to become more humid. Economic downturns in these areas are leading to a decrease in water demand. These factors are further leading to a certain level of under-utilization of existing water supply projects in the area. This study finds that actively releasing ecological water increases the sustainability of these water supply projects. The cost of ecological water supply can be recovered by investment in water-related businesses.
Camila Alvarez-Garreton, Juan Pablo Boisier, René Garreaud, Javier González, Roberto Rondanelli, Eugenia Gayó, and Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1605–1616, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This opinion paper reflects on the risks of overusing groundwater savings to supply permanent water use requirements. Using novel data recently developed for Chile, we reveal how groundwater is being overused, causing ecological and socioeconomic impacts and concealing a Day Zero
scenario. Our argument underscores the need for reformed water allocation rules and sustainable management, shifting from a perception of groundwater as an unlimited source to a finite and vital one.
Benjamin L. Ruddell and Richard Rushforth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1089–1106, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1089-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1089-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study finds that bedroom cities show higher water productivity based on the standard efficiency benchmark of gallons per capita, but core cities that host large businesses show higher water productivity using a basket of economic values like taxes, payroll, and business revenues. Using a broader basket of water productivity benchmarks that consider more of the community’s socio-economic values and goals could inform more balanced and equitable water allocation decisions by policymakers.
Germano G. Ribeiro Neto, Sarra Kchouk, Lieke A. Melsen, Louise Cavalcante, David W. Walker, Art Dewulf, Alexandre C. Costa, Eduardo S. P. R. Martins, and Pieter R. van Oel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4217–4225, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4217-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4217-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
People induce and modify droughts. However, we do not know exactly how relevant human and natural processes interact nor how to evaluate the co-evolution of people and water. Prospect theory can help us to explain the emergence of drought impacts leading to failed welfare expectations (“prospects”) due to water shortage. Our approach helps to explain socio-hydrological phenomena, such as reservoir effects, and can contribute to integrated drought management considering the local context.
Yonca Cavus, Kerstin Stahl, and Hafzullah Aksoy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3427–3445, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3427-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3427-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
With intensified extremes under climate change, water demand increases. Every drop of water is more valuable than before when drought is experienced particularly. We developed drought intensity–duration–frequency curves using physical indicators, the deficit in precipitation and streamflow, for a more straightforward interpretation. Tests with the observed major droughts in two climatologically different catchments confirmed the practical applicability of the curves under drought conditions.
Valérie Jean, Marie-Amélie Boucher, Anissa Frini, and Dominic Roussel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3351–3373, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3351-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3351-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Flood forecasts are only useful if they are understood correctly. They are also uncertain, and it is difficult to present all of the information about the forecast and its uncertainty on a map, as it is three dimensional (water depth and extent, in all directions). To overcome this, we interviewed 139 people to understand their preferences in terms of forecast visualization. We propose simple and effective ways of presenting flood forecast maps so that they can be understood and useful.
Franciele Maria Vanelli, Masato Kobiyama, and Mariana Madruga de Brito
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2301–2317, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2301-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2301-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We conducted a systematic literature review of socio-hydrological studies applied to natural hazards and disaster research. Results indicate that there is a wide range of understanding of what
socialmeans in socio-hydrology, and monodisciplinary studies prevail. We expect to encourage socio-hydrologists to investigate different disasters using a more integrative approach that combines natural and social sciences tools by involving stakeholders and broadening the use of mixed methods.
Leon M. Hermans, Vishal Narain, Remi Kempers, Sharlene L. Gomes, Poulomi Banerjee, Rezaul Hasan, Mashfiqus Salehin, Shah Alam Khan, A. T. M. Zakir Hossain, Kazi Faisal Islam, Sheikh Nazmul Huda, Partha Sarathi Banerjee, Binoy Majumder, Soma Majumder, and Wil A. H. Thissen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2201–2219, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2201-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2201-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Transdisciplinary water research involves the co-creation of knowledge between various stakeholders to advance science and resolve complex societal problems. In this paper, we describe challenges and responses to address power and politics as part of transdisciplinary research. This is done based on a project that combined known principles for transdisciplinary research with a negotiated approach to support groundwater management in peri-urban villages in India and Bangladesh.
Yongping Wei, Jing Wei, Gen Li, Shuanglei Wu, David Yu, Mohammad Ghoreishi, You Lu, Felipe Augusto Arguello Souza, Murugesu Sivapalan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2131–2146, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2131-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2131-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
There is increasing tension among the riparian countries of transboundary rivers. This article proposes a socio-hydrological framework that incorporates the slow and less visible societal processes into existing hydro-economic models, revealing the slow and hidden feedbacks between societal and hydrological processes. This framework will contribute to process-based understanding of the complex mechanism that drives conflict and cooperation in transboundary river management.
John Conallin, Nathan Ning, Jennifer Bond, Nicholas Pawsey, Lee J. Baumgartner, Dwi Atminarso, Hannah McPherson, Wayne Robinson, and Garry Thorncraft
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1357–1370, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1357-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1357-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Implementation failure is well known to be a major barrier to the success of water resource plans and policies. The motivations and abilities (MOTA) approach attempts to address this barrier, by providing a multi-stakeholder, multilevel tool to assess triggers, motivations and abilities supporting the implementation feasibility of plans. We review existing MOTA applications in various water management contexts and propose several complementary add-in applications to complement the approach.
Gopal Penny, Diogo Bolster, and Marc F. Müller
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1187–1202, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1187-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1187-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In residential areas with a high housing density, septic contamination of private wells raises multiple health concerns. Often, few regulations exist to ensure good water quality in such systems, and water quality is often left to the homeowner. To address the potential obstacles to effective management, we identify situations where misplaced economic incentives hinder effective policy to support water quality in such systems.
Jonatan Godinez Madrigal, Nora Van Cauwenbergh, Jaime Hoogesteger, Pamela Claure Gutierrez, and Pieter van der
Zaag
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 885–902, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-885-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-885-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Urban water systems are facing an increasing pressure on their water resources to guarantee safe and sufficient water access. Water managers often use tried and tested strategies like large supply augmentation infrastructure to address water problems. However, these projects do not address key problems and cause water conflicts. We conducted transdisciplinary research to show how water conflicts can change the development pathway of urban water systems by implementing alternative solutions.
Shuanglei Wu, Yongping Wei, and Xuemei Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5381–5398, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5381-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5381-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Using publications indexed in the Web of Science, we investigated water resources knowledge development at the river basin scale since 1900 and found that legacy-driven knowledge structures, increasingly homogenized management issues, and largely static cross-disciplinary collaborations dominated highly researched river basins. A structural shift of water resources knowledge development to cope with the rapidly changing hydrological systems and associated management issues is urgently needed.
Guang Yang and Paul Block
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3617–3634, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3617-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3617-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
There is a clear trade-off between reservoir hydropower generation and the variability in reservoir water release, which can be used to derive water-sharing policies and provide critical insights during riparian negotiations regarding downstream flows supplementing during drought conditions. This type of water-sharing policy can effectively mitigate the water use conflicts between upstream and downstream countries, especially during drought periods.
Leandro Carlos Sgroi, Miguel Angel Lovino, Ernesto Hugo Berbery, and Gabriela Viviana Müller
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2475–2490, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2475-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2475-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study advances the understanding and impacts of drought on wheat, corn, and soybean yields over Argentina's main crop region, where crop production is more intense and represents the main contribution to the country's gross domestic product. Our analysis focuses on drought properties, including the magnitude, frequency at different timescales, duration, and severity. This new approach can be helpful for regional decision-making and planning by water managers and in agricultural contexts.
Iman Haqiqi, Danielle S. Grogan, Thomas W. Hertel, and Wolfram Schlenker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 551–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-551-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-551-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study combines a fine-scale weather product with outputs of a hydrological model to construct functional metrics of individual and compound hydroclimatic extremes for agriculture. Then, a yield response function is estimated with individual and compound metrics focusing on corn in the United States during the 1981–2015 period. The findings suggest that metrics of compound hydroclimatic extremes are better predictors of corn yield variations than metrics of individual extremes.
Anna L. Flack, Anthony S. Kiem, Tessa R. Vance, Carly R. Tozer, and Jason L. Roberts
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5699–5712, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5699-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5699-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Palaeoclimate information was analysed for eastern Australia to determine when (and where) there was agreement about the timing of wet and dry epochs in the pre-instrumental period (1000–1899). The results show that instrumental records (~1900–present) underestimate the full range of rainfall variability that has occurred. When coupled with projected impacts of climate change and growing demands, these results highlight major challenges for water resource management and infrastructure.
Jonatan Godinez-Madrigal, Nora Van Cauwenbergh, and Pieter van der Zaag
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4903–4921, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4903-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4903-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Our research studies whether science depoliticizes water conflicts or instead conflicts politicize science–policy processes. We analyze a water conflict due to the development of large infrastructure. We interviewed key actors in the conflict and replicated the results of water resources models developed to solve the conflict. We found that knowledge produced in isolation has no positive effect in transforming the conflict; instead, its potential could be enhanced if produced collaboratively.
Sang-Hyun Lee, Amjad T. Assi, Bassel Daher, Fatima E. Mengoub, and Rabi H. Mohtar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4727–4741, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4727-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4727-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Proper water availability for the right place and time in a changing climate requires analysis of complex scientific, technical, socioeconomic, regulatory, and political issues. A Water-Energy-Food Nexus Phosphate (WEF-P) Tool, based on integrating supply chain processes, transportation, and water–energy footprints could assess the various scenarios to offer an effective means of ensuring sustainable management of limited resources to both agricultural areas and the phosphate industry.
Arvid Bring and Steve W. Lyon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2369–2378, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2369-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2369-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrology education strives to teach students both quantitative ability and complex professional skills. Our research shows that role-play simulations are useful to make students able to integrate various analytical skills in complicated settings while not interfering with traditional teaching that fosters their ability to solve mathematical problems. Despite this there are several potential challenging areas in using role-plays, and we therefore suggest ways around these potential roadblocks.
Jin-Young Hyun, Shih-Yu Huang, Yi-Chen Ethan Yang, Vincent Tidwell, and Jordan Macknick
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2261–2278, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2261-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2261-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study applies a two-way coupled agent-based model (ABM) with a river-reservoir management model (RiverWare) to analyze the role of risk perception in water management decisions using the Bayesian inference mapping joined with the cost–loss model. The calibration results capture the dynamics of historical irrigated area and streamflow changes and suggest that the proposed framework improves the representation of human decision-making processes compared to conventional rule-based ABMs.
Henning Lebrenz and András Bárdossy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1633–1648, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1633-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1633-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Many variables, e.g., in hydrology, geology, and social sciences, are only observed at a few distinct measurement locations, and their actual distribution in the entire space remains unknown. We introduce the new geostatistical interpolation method of
quantile kriging, providing an improved estimator and associated uncertainty. It can also host variables, which would not fulfill the implicit presumptions of the traditional geostatistical interpolation methods.
Gemma J. Venhuizen, Rolf Hut, Casper Albers, Cathelijne R. Stoof, and Ionica Smeets
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 393–403, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-393-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-393-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Do experts attach the same meaning as laypeople to terms often used in hydrology such as "river", "flooding" and "downstream"? In this study a survey was completed by 34 experts and 119 laypeople to answer this question. We found that there are some profound differences between experts and laypeople: words like "river" and "river basin" turn out to have a different interpretation between the two groups. However, when using pictures there is much more agreement between the groups.
James O. Knighton, Osamu Tsuda, Rebecca Elliott, and M. Todd Walter
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5657–5673, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5657-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5657-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Decision-making for flood risk management is often the collective effort of professionals within government, NGOs, private practice, and advocacy groups. Our research investigates differences among flood experts within Tompkins County, New York (USA). We explore how they differ in their perceptions of flooding risk, desired project outcomes, and knowledge. We observe substantial differences among experts, and recommend formally acknowledging these perceptions when engaging in flood management.
Md Ruknul Ferdous, Anna Wesselink, Luigia Brandimarte, Kymo Slager, Margreet Zwarteveen, and Giuliano Di Baldassarre
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5159–5173, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5159-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5159-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Socio-hydrological space (SHS) is a concept that enriches the study of socio-hydrology because it helps understand the detailed human–water interactions in a specific location. The concept suggests that the interactions between society and water are place-bound because of differences in social processes and river dynamics. This would be useful for developing interventions under disaster management, but also other development goals. SHS provides a new way of looking at socio-hydrological systems.
Xiao-Bo Luan, Ya-Li Yin, Pu-Te Wu, Shi-Kun Sun, Yu-Bao Wang, Xue-Rui Gao, and Jing Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5111–5123, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5111-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5111-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
At present, the water footprint calculated by the quantitative method of crop production water footprint is only a field-scale water footprint, which does not contain all the water consumption of the crop growth process, so its calculated crop production water footprint is incomplete. In this study, the hydrological model SWAT was used to analyze the real water consumption in the course of crop growth, so that the actual water consumption of the crops could be more accurately reflected.
Hafsa Ahmed Munia, Joseph H. A. Guillaume, Naho Mirumachi, Yoshihide Wada, and Matti Kummu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2795–2809, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2795-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2795-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
An analytical framework is developed drawing on ideas of regime shifts from resilience literature to understand the transition between cases where water scarcity is or is not experienced depending on whether water from upstream is or is not available. The analysis shows 386 million people dependent on upstream water to avoid possible stress and 306 million people dependent on upstream water to avoid possible shortage. This provides insights into implications for negotiations between sub-basins.
Erik Mostert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 317–329, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-317-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-317-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper argues for an alternative approach for socio‒hydrology: detailed case study research. Detailed case study research can increase understanding of how society interacts with hydrology, offers more levers for management than coupled modelling, and facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation. The paper presents a case study of the Dommel Basin in the Netherlands and Belgium and compares this with a published model of the Kissimmee Basin in Florida.
Feng Mao, Julian Clark, Timothy Karpouzoglou, Art Dewulf, Wouter Buytaert, and David Hannah
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3655–3670, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3655-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3655-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The paper aims to propose a conceptual framework that supports nuanced understanding and analytical assessment of resilience in socio-hydrological contexts. We identify three framings of resilience for different human–water couplings, which have distinct application fields and are used for different water management challenges. To assess and improve socio-hydrological resilience in each type, we introduce a
resilience canvasas a heuristic tool to design bespoke management strategies.
Songjun Han, Fuqiang Tian, Ye Liu, and Xianhui Duan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3619–3633, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3619-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3619-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The history of the co-evolution of the coupled human–groundwater system in Cangzhou (a region with the most serious depression cone in the North China Plain) is analyzed with a particular focus on how the groundwater crisis unfolded and how people attempted to settle the crisis. The evolution of the system was substantially impacted by two droughts. Further restoration of groundwater environment could be anticipated, but the occurrence of drought still remains an undetermined external forcing.
Kharis Erasta Reza Pramana and Maurits Willem Ertsen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4093–4115, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4093-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4093-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The effects of human actions in small-scale water development initiatives and the associated hydrological research activities are basically unspecified. We argue that more explicit attention helps to design more appropriate answers to the challenges faced in field studies. A more systematic approach is proposed that would be useful when designing field projects: two sets of questions on (1) dealing with surprises and (2) cost–benefits of data gathering.
Rolf Hut, Anne M. Land-Zandstra, Ionica Smeets, and Cathelijne R. Stoof
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2507–2518, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2507-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2507-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
To help geo-scientists prepare for TV appearances, we review the scientific literature on effective science communication related to TV. We identify six main themes: scientist motivation, target audience, narratives and storytelling, jargon and information transfer, relationship between scientists and journalists, and stereotypes of scientists on TV. We provide a detailed case study as illustration for each theme.
Hazel Gibson, Iain S. Stewart, Sabine Pahl, and Alison Stokes
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1737–1749, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1737-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1737-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides empirical evidence for the value of using a psychology-based approach to communication of hydrology and hazards. It demonstrates the use of the "mental models" approach to risk assessment used in a regional geoscience context to explore the conceptions of the geological subsurface between experts and non-experts, and how that impacts on communication.
J. F. Schyns, A. Y. Hoekstra, and M. J. Booij
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4581–4608, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4581-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4581-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The paper draws attention to the fact that green water (soil moisture returning to the atmosphere through evaporation) is a scarce resource, because its availability is limited and there are competing demands for green water. Around 80 indicators of green water availability and scarcity are reviewed and classified based on their scope and purpose of measurement. This is useful in order to properly include limitations in green water availability in water scarcity assessments.
S. Zhou, Y. Huang, Y. Wei, and G. Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3715–3726, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3715-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3715-2015, 2015
V. Ernstsen, P. Olsen, and A. E. Rosenbom
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3475–3488, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3475-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3475-2015, 2015
M. J. Halverson and S. W. Fleming
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3301–3318, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3301-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3301-2015, 2015
A. F. Van Loon, S. W. Ploum, J. Parajka, A. K. Fleig, E. Garnier, G. Laaha, and H. A. J. Van Lanen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1993–2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1993-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1993-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological drought types in cold climates have complex causing factors and impacts. In Austria and Norway, a lack of snowmelt is mainly related to below-normal winter precipitation, and a lack of glaciermelt is mainly related to below-normal summer temperature. These and other hydrological drought types impacted hydropower production, water supply, and agriculture in Europe and the US in the recent and far past. For selected drought events in Norway impacts could be coupled to causing factors.
A. Fernald, S. Guldan, K. Boykin, A. Cibils, M. Gonzales, B. Hurd, S. Lopez, C. Ochoa, M. Ortiz, J. Rivera, S. Rodriguez, and C. Steele
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 293–307, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-293-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-293-2015, 2015
X. C. Cao, P. T. Wu, Y. B. Wang, and X. N. Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3165–3178, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3165-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3165-2014, 2014
K. Madani, M. Zarezadeh, and S. Morid
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3055–3068, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3055-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3055-2014, 2014
J. Chenoweth, M. Hadjikakou, and C. Zoumides
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2325–2342, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2325-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2325-2014, 2014
S. Pande and M. Ertsen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1745–1760, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1745-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1745-2014, 2014
P. Gober and H. S. Wheater
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1413–1422, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1413-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1413-2014, 2014
H. Chang, P. Thiers, N. R. Netusil, J. A. Yeakley, G. Rollwagen-Bollens, S. M. Bollens, and S. Singh
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1383–1395, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1383-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1383-2014, 2014
Cited articles
AAFC: Soils of Canada, Derived, Soil Landscapes of Canada and Detailed Soil
Surveys, version 3.2, Canadian Soil Information Service, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, available at: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/8f496e3f-1e54-4dbb-a501-a91eccf616b8
(last access: 16 March 2018), 2013.
AAFC: Detailed Soil Surveys, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of
Canada, available at: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/7ed13bbe-fbac-417c-a942-ea2b3add1748
(last access: 16 March 2018), 2015.
AAFC: Annual Crop Inventory, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of
Canada, available at: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ba2645d5-4458-414d-b196-6303ac06c1c9
(last access: 30 November 2017), 2016.
Ameli, A. A. and Creed, I. F.: Does Wetland Location Matter When Managing Wetlands for Watershed-Scale Flood and Drought Resilience?, J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 55, 529–542, https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12737, 2019.
Atkinson, N., Utting, D. J., and Pawley, S. M.: Surficial geology of
west-central Alberta (GIS data, polygon features); Alberta Energy Regulator,
AER/AGS Digital Data 2017-0031, available at: http://ags.aer.ca/publications/DIG_2017_0031.html, last access: 6 December 2017.
Awada, L., Lindwall, C. W., and Sonntag, B.: The development and adoption of
conservation tillage systems on the Canadian Prairies, Int. Soil Water
Conserv. Res., 2, 47–65, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-6339(15)30013-7, 2014.
Balas, C. J., Euliss, N. H., and Mushet, D. M.: Influence of conservation
programs on amphibians using seasonal wetlands in the prairie pothole region, Wetlands, 32, 333–345, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-012-0269-9, 2012.
Begou, J., Bazie, P., and Afouda, A.: Catchment classification: multivariate
statistical analyses for physiographic similarity in the Upper Niger Basin, J. Eng. Res. Appl., 5, 60–68, 2015.
Breen, S.-P. W., Loring, P. A., and Baulch, H.: When a Water Problem Is More
Than a Water Problem: Fragmentation, Framing, and the Case of Agricultural
Wetland Drainage, Front. Environ. Sci., 6, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00129, 2018.
Brown, R., Zhang, Z., Comeau, L. P., and Bedard-Haughn, A.: Effects of drainage duration on mineral wetland soils in a Prairie Pothole agroecosystem, Soil Till. Res., 168, 187–197, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.12.015, 2017.
Brown, S. C., Lester, R. E., Versace, V. L., Fawcett, J., and Laurenson, L.:
Hydrologic landscape regionalisation using deductive classification and
random forests, PLoS One, 9, e112856, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112856, 2014.
Bulley, H. N. N., Marx, D. B., Merchant, J. W., Holz, J. C., and Holz, A. A.: A comparison of Nebraska reservoir classes estimated from watershed-based
classification models and ecoregions, J. Environ. Inform., 11, 90–102,
https://doi.org/10.3808/jei.200800114, 2008.
Burn, D.: Cluster analysis as applied to regional flood frequency, J. Water
Resour. Pl.-Manage., 115, 567–582, 1990.
Cade-Menun, B. J., Bell, G., Baker-Ismail, S., Fouli, Y., Hodder, K., McMartin, D. W., Perez-Valdivia, C., and Wu, K.: Nutrient loss from
Saskatchewan cropland and pasture in spring snowmelt runoff, Can. J. Soil Sci., 93, 445–458, https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss2012-042, 2013.
Calhoun, A. J. K., Mushet, D. M., Bell, K. P., Boix, D., Fitzsimons, J. A.,
and Isselin-Nondedeu, F.: Temporary wetlands: challenges and solutions to
conserving a “disappearing” ecosystem, Biol. Conserv., 211, 3–11,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.024, 2017.
Cavadias, G. S., Ouarda, T. B. M. J., Bobee, B., and Girard, C.: A canonical
correlation approach to the determination of homogeneous regions for regional flood estimation of ungauged basins, Hydrol. Sci. J., 46, 499–512,
https://doi.org/10.1080/02626660109492846, 2001.
Coles, A. E., McConkey, B. G., and McDonnell, J. J.: Climate change impacts on hillslope runoff on the northern Great Plains, 1962–2013, J. Hydrol., 550, 538–548, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.05.023, 2017.
DeBeer, C. M., Wheater, H. S., Carey, S. K., and Chun, K. P.: Recent climatic, cryospheric, and hydrological changes over the interior of western
Canada: A review and synthesis, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1573–1598,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1573-2016, 2016.
Detenbeck, N. E., Batterman, S. L., Brady, V. J., Brazner, J. C., Snarski, V. M., Taylor, D. L., Thompson, J. A., and Arthur, J. W.: A Test of Watershed
Classification Systems for Ecological Risk Assessment, Environ. Toxicol.
Chem., 19, 1174, https://doi.org/10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<1174:ATOWCS>2.3.CO;2, 2000.
Devito, K., Creed, I., Gan, T., Mendoza, C., Petrone, R., Silins, U., and
Smerdon, B.: A framework for broad-scale classification of hydrologic response units on the Boreal Plain: Is topography the last thing to consider?, Hydrol. Process., 19, 1705–1714, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5881, 2005.
Dumanski, S., Pomeroy, J. W., and Westbrook, C. J.: Hydrological regime changes in a Canadian Prairie basin, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3893–3904,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10567, 2015.
Durrant, E. F. and Blackwell, S. R.: The magnitude and frequency of floods in the Canadian Prairies, Proc. Of Symposium No. 1, Spillway Design Floods,
sub-committee on hydrology, National Research Council Associate Committee on
Geodesy and Geophysics, The Queens Printer, Ottawa, 1959.
ECCC: Canadian Gridded Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, available at:
https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/3d4b68a5-13bc-48bb-ad10-801128aa6604, last access: November 2017.
Ecological Stratification Working Group: A National Ecological Framework for
Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Report and national map at 1:7 500 000 scale, Research Branch, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research and Environment Canada, State of the Environment Directorate, Ecozone Analysis Branch, Ottawa/Hull., 1995
Evenson, G. R., Golden, H. E., Lane, C. R., McLaughlin, D. L., and D'Amico, E.: Depressional wetlands affect watershed hydrological, biogeochemical, and
ecological functions, Ecol. Appl., 28, 953–966, https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1701, 2018.
Fang, X., Pomeroy, J. W., Westbrook, C. J., Guo, X., Minke, A. G., and Brown,
T.: Prediction of snowmelt derived streamflow in a wetland dominated prairie
basin, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 991–1006, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-991-2010, 2010.
Geological Survey of Canada: Surficial geology of Canada/Géologie des
formations superficielles du Canada, Canadian Geoscience Map, Geological
Survey of Canada, Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 195 pp., https://doi.org/10.4095/295462, 2014.
Gibson, J. J., Birks, S. J., Jeffries, D. S., Kumar, S., Scott, K. A., Aherne, J., and Shaw, D. P.: Site-specific estimates of water yield applied in regional acid sensitivity surveys across western Canada, J. Limnol., 69,
67–76, https://doi.org/10.3274/JL10-69-S1-08, 2010.
Gibson, J. J., Yi, Y., and Birks, S. J.: Isotope-based partitioning of
streamflow in the oil sands region, northern Alberta: Towards a monitoring
strategy for assessing flow sources and water quality controls, J. Hydrol.
Reg. Stud., 5, 131–148, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.12.062, 2016.
Gober, P. and Wheater, H. S.: Socio-hydrology and the science-policy interface: a case study of the Saskatchewan River basin, Hydrol. Earth Syst.
Sci., 18, 1413–1422, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1413-2014, 2014.
Godwin, R. B. and Martin, F. R. J.: Calculation of gross and effective drainage areas for the Prairie Provinces, in: Canadian Hydrology Symposium – 1975 Proceedings, 11–14 August 1975, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Associate Committee on Hydrology, National Research Council of Canada, 219–223, 1975.
Golden, H. E., Creed, I. F., Ali, G., Basu, N. B., Neff, B. P., Rains, M. C., McLaughlin, D. L., Alexander, L. C., Ameli, A. A., Christensen, J. R., Evenson, G. R., Jones, C. N., Lane, C. R., and Lang, M.: Integrating
geographically isolated wetlands into land management decisions, Front. Ecol. Environ., 15, 319–327, https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1504, 2017.
Goldhaber, M. B., Mills, C. T., Morrison, J. M., Stricker, C. A., Mushet, D.
M., and LaBaugh, J. W.: Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands:
Role of long-term critical zone processes, Chem. Geol., 387, 170–183,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.08.023, 2014.
Gooding, R. M. and Baulch, H. M.: Small reservoirs as a beneficial management practice for nitrogen removal, J. Environ. Qual., 46, 96–104, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2016.07.0252, 2017.
Hansen, A. T., Dolph, C. L., Foufoula-Georgiou, E., and Finlay, J. C.:
Contribution of wetlands to nitrate removal at the watershed scale, Nat. Geosci., 11, 127–132, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0056-6, 2018.
Harder, P., Helgason, W. D., and Pomeroy, J. W.: Modeling the Snowpack Energy
Balance during Melt under Exposed Crop Stubble, J. Hydrometeorol., 19,
1191–1214, https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-18-0039.1, 2018.
Hayashi, M., Van Der Kamp, G., and Schmidt, R.: Focused infiltration of snowmelt water in partially frozen soil under small depressions, J. Hydrol., 270, 214–229, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(02)00287-1, 2003.
Hayashi, M., Van der Kamp, G., and Rosenberry, D. O.: Hydrology of Prairie
Wetlands: Understanding the Integrated Surface-Water and Groundwater Processes, Wetlands, 36, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-016-0797-9, 2016.
Hijmans, R. J.: raster: Geographic data analysis and modeling, R package
version 2.6-7, available at: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=raster
(last access: 27 April 2019), 2017.
Hosking, J. R. and Wallis, J. R.: Parameter and quantile estimation for the
generalized Pareto distribution, Technometrics, 29, 339–349, 1987.
Husson, F., Josse, J., Lê, S., and Mazet, J.: FactoMineR: Multivariate
Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining with R, R package version 1.12,
available at: http://factominer.free (last access: 24 April 2019), 2009.
Jones, N. E., Schmidt, B. J., Melles, S. J., and Brickman, D.: Characteristics and distribution of natural flow regimes in Canada: a habitat template approach, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 71, 1616–1624,
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2014-0040, 2014.
Kanishka, G. and Eldho, T. I.: Watershed classification using isomap technique and hydrometeorological attributes, J. Hydrol. Eng., 22, 04017040,
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001562, 2017.
Kerr, J. G.: Multiple land use activities drive riverine salinization in a
large, semi-arid river basin in western Canada, Limnol. Oceanogr., 62,
1331–1345, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10498, 2017.
Knoben, W. J. M., Woods, R. A., and Freer, J. E.: A quantitative hydrological climate classification evaluated with independent streamflow data, Water Resour. Res., 54, 5088–5109, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR022913, 2018.
Laudon, H., Spence, C., Buttle, J., Carey, S. K., McDonnell, J. J., McNamara, J. P., Soulsby, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Save northern high-latitude catchments, Nat. Geosci., 10, 324–325, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2947, 2017.
Lê, S., Josse, J., and Husson, F.: FactoMineR: An R Package for
Multivariate Analysis, J. Stat. Softw., 25, 1–18, 2008.
Lehner, B. and Grill, G.: Global river hydrography and network routing: baseline data and new approaches to study the world's large river systems,
Hydrol. Process., 27, 2171–2186, 2013.
Leibowitz, S. G., Mushet, D. M., and Newton, W. E.: Intermittent Surface
Water Connectivity: Fill and Spill Vs. Fill and Merge Dynamics, Wetlands, 36, 323–342, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-016-0830-z, 2016.
Leibowitz, S. G., Wigington, P. J., Schofield, K. A., Alexander, L. C.,
Vanderhoof, M. K., and Golden, H. E.: Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to
Downstream Waters: An Integrated Systems Framework, J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 54, 298–322, https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12631, 2018.
Liu, G. and Schwartz, F. W.: Climate-driven variability in lake and wetland
distribution across the Prairie Pothole Region: From modern observations to
long-term reconstructions with space-for-time substitution, Water Resour.
Res., 48, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011539, 2012.
Loveland, T. R. and Merchant, J. M.: Ecoregions and Ecoregionalization:
Geographical and Ecological Perspectives, Environ. Manage., 34, S1–S13,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-5181-x, 2004.
MacCulloch, G. and Whitfield, P. H. H.: Towards a Stream Classification System for the Canadian Prairie Provinces, Can. Water Resour. J., 37,
311–332, https://doi.org/10.4296/cwrj2011-905, 2012.
Main, A. R., Headley, J. V., Peru, K. M., Michel, N. L., Cessna, A. J., and
Morrissey, C. A.: Widespread use and frequent detection of neonicotinoid
insecticides in wetlands of Canada's prairie pothole region, PLoS One, 9,
e92821, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092821, 2014.
Marton, J. M., Creed, I. F., Lewis, D. B., Lane, C. R., Basu, N. B., Cohen,
M. J., and Craft, C. B.: Geographically isolated wetlands are important
biogeochemical reactors on the landscape, Bioscience, 65, 408–418,
https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv009, 2015.
Matile, G. L. D. and Keller, G. R.: Surficial geology of the Norway House map
sheet (NTS 63H), Manitoba, Surficial Geology Compilation Map Series SG-63H,
scale 1:250 000, Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines, Manitoba
Geological Survey, Manitoba, available at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/iem/info/libmin/SG-63H.zip (last access: 6 December 2017), 2006.
McDonnell, J. J. and Woods, R.: On the need for catchment classification, J.
Hydrol., 299, 2–3, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.09.003, 2004.
Mekis, É. and Vincent, L. A.: An overview of the second generation adjusted daily precipitation dataset for trend analysis in Canada, Atmos.-Ocean, 49, 163–177, https://doi.org/10.1080/07055900.2011.583910, 2011.
Mowchenko, M. and Meid, P. O.: The Determination of Gross and Effective Drainage Areas in the Prairie Provinces, edited by: Regina, S. K., Agriculture – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation – Engineering Branch, Agriculture Canada, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, Engineering Branch, Regina, SK, Canada, 22 pp., 1983.
Mwale, D., Gan, T. Y., Devito, K. J., Silins, U., Mendoza, C., and Petrone, R.: Regionalization of Runoff Variability of Alberta, Canada, by Wavelet,
Independent Component, Empirical Orthogonal Function, and Geographical
Information System Analyses, J. Hydrol. Eng., 16, 93–107,
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000284, 2011.
NRC: Hydro features (1:50 000), National Hydro Network, CanVec series, Earth Sciences Sector, Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada, available at: http://open.canada.ca/en (last access: 22 November 2017), 2016.
Oksanen, J., Blanchet, F. G., Friendly, M., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., McGlinn, D., Minchin, P. R., O'Hara, R. B., Simpson, G. L., Solymos, P., Stevens, M. H. H., Szoecs, E., and Wagner, H.: vegan: Community Ecology Package, R package version 2.5-2, available at: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan, last access: 23 September 2018.
Omernik, J. M. and Griffith, G. E.: Ecoregions of the Conterminous United
States: Evolution of a Hierarchical Spatial Framework, Environ. Manage., 54, 1249–1266, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0364-1, 2014.
Ouarda, T. B., Hache, M., Bruneau, P., and Bobee, B.: Regional Flood Peak and
Volume Estimation in Northern Canadian Basin, J. Cold Reg. Eng., 14, 176–191, 2002.
Pekel, J.-F., Cottam, A., Gorelick, N., and Belward, A. S.: High-resolution
mapping of global surface water and its long-term changes, Nature, 540, 418–422, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20584, 2016.
Peters, D. L., Boon, S., Huxter, E. H., Spence, C., van Meerveld, H. J., and
Whitfield, P. H.: Zero Flow: A PUB (Prediction in Ungauged Basins) Workshop
on Temporary Streams: Summary of workshop discussions and future directions,
Can. Water Resour. J., 37, 425–431, 2012.
Rao, A. R. and Srinivas, V. V.: Regionalization of watersheds by fuzzy cluster analysis, J. Hydrol., 318, 57–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.06.004, 2006.
Razavi, T. and Coulibaly, P.: Classification of Ontario watersheds based on
physical attributes and streamflow series, J. Hydrol., 493, 81–94,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.013, 2013.
Razavi, T. and Coulibaly, P.: An evaluation of regionalization and watershed
classification schemes for continuous daily streamflow prediction in ungauged watersheds, Can. Water Resour. J., 42, 2–20, https://doi.org/10.1080/07011784.2016.1184590, 2017.
R Core Team: R: A language and environment for statistical computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, available at:
https://www.R-project.org/ (last access: 27 April 2019), 2018.
Ribatet, M.: SpatialExtremes: Modelling Spatial Extremes, R package version 2.0-7, available at: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=SpatialExtremes (last access: 24 April 2019), 2018.
Sawicz, K., Wagener, T., Sivapalan, M., Troch, P. A., and Carrillo, G.:
Catchment classification: Empirical analysis of hydrologic similarity based on catchment function in the eastern USA, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15,
2895–2911, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2895-2011, 2011.
Shaw, D. A., van der Kamp, G., Conly, F. M., Pietroniro, A., and Martz, L.:
The Fill-Spill Hydrology of Prairie Wetland Complexes during Drought and
Deluge, Hydrol. Process., 26, 3147–3156, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8390, 2012.
Shook, K. R. and Pomeroy, J. W.: Memory effects of depressional storage in
Northern Prairie hydrology, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3890–3898,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8381, 2011.
Shook, K. and Pomeroy, J.: Changes in the hydrological character of rainfall
on the Canadian prairies, Hydrol. Process., 26, 1752–1766,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9383, 2012.
Shook, K., Pomeroy, J. W., Spence, C., and Boychuk, L.: Storage dynamics
simulations in prairie wetland hydrology models: Evaluation and
parameterization, Hydrol. Process., 27, 1875–1889, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9867,
2013.
Shook, K., Pomeroy, J., and van der Kamp, G.: The transformation of frequency
distributions of winter precipitation to spring streamflow probabilities in
cold regions; case studies from the Canadian Prairies, J. Hydrol., 521,
394–409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.014, 2015.
Simpson, M. A.: Surficial Geology Map of Saskatchewan (250k_surficial, vector digital data), Original maps published 1984 to 1988; merged digital version made available 2008, compiled by: Simpson, M. A., Environment Branch, Saskatchewan Research Council and Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, available at: https://gisappl.saskatchewan.ca/Html5Ext/index.html?viewer=GeoAtlas
(last access: 6 December 2017), 2008.
Sivakumar, B., Singh, V. P., Berndtsson, R., and Khan, S. K.: Catchment
Classification Framework in Hydrology: Challenges and Directions, J. Hydrol.
Eng., 20, A4014002, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000837, 2013.
Spence, C. and Saso, P.: A hydrological neighbourhood approach to predicting
streamflow in the Mackenzie valley, Prediction in Ungauged Basins: Approaches for Canada's Cold Regions, 21–44, 2005.
Spence, C. and Woo, M. K.: Hydrology of subarctic Canadian shield: Soil-filled valleys, J. Hydrol., 279, 151–166, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(03)00175-6, 2003.
Spence, C., Wolfe, J. D., Whitfield, C. J., Baulch, H. M., Basu, N. B., Bedard-Haughn, A. K., Belcher, K. W., Clark, R. G., Ferguson, G. A., Hayashi, M., Liber, K., McDonnell, J. J., Morrissey, C. A., Pomeroy, J. W., Reed, M. G., and Strickert, G.: Prairie water: a global water futures project to enhance the resilience of prairie communities through sustainable water management, Can. Water Resour. J., 44, 115–126, https://doi.org/10.1080/07011784.2018.1527256, 2018.
Statistics Canada: Table 32-10-0162-01, Selected land management practices
and tillage practices used to prepare land for seeding, historical data,
Census of Agriculture, Statistics Canada, Government of Canada, available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=3210016201
(last access: 23 March 2018), 2016.
Thornthwaite, C.: An Approach toward a Rational Classification of Climate, Geogr. Rev., 38, 55–94, 1948.
Vanderhoof, M. K., Christensen, J. R., and Alexander, L. C.: Patterns and
drivers for wetland connections in the Prairie Pothole Region, United States, Wetl. Ecol. Manage., 25, 275–297, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-016-9516-9, 2017.
Van der Kamp, G. and Hayashi, M.: Groundwater-wetland ecosystem interaction
in the semiarid glaciated plains of North America, Hydrogeol. J., 17, 203–214, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0367-1, 2009.
Van der Kamp, G., Hayashi, M., and Gallén, D.: Comparing the hydrology of
grassed and cultivated catchments in the semi-arid Canadian prairies, Hydrol. Process., 17, 559–575, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.1157, 2003.
Van der Kamp, G., Hayashi, M., Bedard-Haughn, A., and Pennock, D.: Prairie
Pothole Wetlands – Suggestions for Practical and Objective Definitions and
Terminology, Wetlands, 36, 229–235, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-016-0809-9, 2016.
Van Meter, K. J. and Basu, N. B.: Signatures of human impact: size distributions and spatial organization of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole
landscape, Ecol. Appl., 25, 451–465, https://doi.org/10.1890/14-0662.1, 2015.
Vincent, L. A., Wang, X. L., Milewska, E. J., Wan, H., Yang, F., and Swail, V.: A second generation of homogenized Canadian monthly surface air temperature for climate trend analysis, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 117, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JD017859, 2012.
Vincent, L. A., Zhang, X., Brown, R. D., Feng, Y., Mekis, E., Milewska, E. J., Wan, H., and Wang, X. L.: Observed trends in Canada's climate and
influence of low-frequency variability modes, J. Climate, 28, 4545–4560,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00697.1, 2015.
Vicente-Serrano, S. M., Beguería, S., and López-Moreno, J. I.: A
Multi-scalar drought index sensitive to global warming: The Standardized
Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index – SPEI, J. Climate, 23, 1696–1718,
https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI2909.1, 2010.
Wagener, T., Sivapalan, M., Troch, P., and Woods, R.: Catchment classification and hydrologic similarity, Geogr. Compass, 1, 901–931,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8198.2007.00039.x, 2007.
Wagner, T., Bremigan, M. T., Cheruvelil, K. S., Soranno, P. A., Nate, N. A.,
and Breck, J. E.: A multilevel modeling approach to assessing regional and
local landscape features for lake classification and assessment of fish growth rates, Environ. Monit. Assess., 130, 437–454, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9434-z, 2007.
Weber, D., Sadeghian, A., Luo, B., Waiser, M. J., and Lindenschmidt, K. E.:
Modelling Scenarios to Estimate the Potential Impact of Hydrological Standards on Nutrient Retention in the Tobacco Creek Watershed, Manitoba,
Canada, Water Resour. Manage., 31, 1305–1321, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-017-1578-9, 2017.
Short summary
Watershed classification can identify regions expected to respond similarly to disturbance. Methods should extend beyond hydrology to include other environmental questions, such as ecology and water quality. We developed a classification for the Canadian Prairie and identified seven classes defined by watershed characteristics, including elevation, climate, wetland density, and surficial geology. Results provide a basis for evaluating watershed response to land management and climate condition.
Watershed classification can identify regions expected to respond similarly to disturbance....
