Assessing the Potential of Agricultural Reservoirs as the Source of Environmental Flow

Excessive nutrient loadings from drainage areas and resulting water quality degradation in rivers are the major environmental issues around world. The further deteriorates for large seasonal variation of precipitation flow. Environmental decision makers have been exploring affordable effective ways securing flow (EF) to improve quality, especially dry seasons, agricultural reservoirs attracted attention policymakers as an alternative source EF. This study proposed analysis framework assessing EF supply potential sources A reservoir balance model was prepared mathematically represent quantify temporal variations amount available supply. simulation designed explicitly consider inflow upstream areas, irrigation requirement, hydrological processes happening reservoirs. applied four located South Korea evaluate its efficiency. Results showed that additional storage capacity added by dam reinforcement enabled satisfy both needs, surplus turned out be enough various scenarios at annual time scale. However, current operation plans do not hydrology thus cannot without violating original operational goal, water, months. results demonstrate it is necessary when developing rules secure also highlights unconventional roles resources improved quality. methods presented this expected a useful tool assessment reservoirs’ potential.