Hydromorphological Assessment as the Basis for Ecosystem Restoration in the Nanxi River Basin (China)

Helene Müller, Stephan Hörbinger, Fabian Franta, Ana Mendes, Jianhua Li, Ping Cao, Baiyin Baoligao, Fengran Xu and Hans Peter Rauch
Additional contact information
Helene Müller: Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Stephan Hörbinger: Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Fabian Franta: Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Ana Mendes: LabOr—Laboratório de Ornitologia, Universidade de Évora, MED—Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, Polo da Mitra, 7002-774 Evora, Portugal
Jianhua Li: Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Ping Cao: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Baiyin Baoligao: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Fengran Xu: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Hans Peter Rauch: Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Hydromorphology is a major component of riverine ecosystems. Therefore, proper assessments of the status quo, as well as the detection of pressures in river basins, are of high relevance. Process-based morphological methods have been developed, relying on a broad data basis and resulting in suitable instruments, such as the Morphological Quality Index (MQI). In this study, the hydromorphological status of the Nanxi river system in Eastern China was assessed by an adapted application of the MQI. Adaptations and amendments in the methodical approach were developed in cycles and carried out to transfer the well-approved method for European river systems to another geographical setting. The strengths of the tested approach are the few data requirements, the applicability for modified river basins, and the decoupling of historical information. The assessment of 161 river kilometers resulted in a hydromorphological status quo with the focus being a relative comparison of different sections ranging from “moderate” to “bad”, with an average classification of a “poor” state. On the one hand, the results build the basis for future restoration and river management planning, specifically, and on the other hand, they create a foundation for the development of an assessment method fitted for modified river systems conditions.

Keywords: hydromorphology; hydromorphological assessment; Morphological Quality Index (MQI); riverine ecosystem; river restoration; ecosystem services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/193/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/193/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:193-:d:734589

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().