Impact of Land Use Changes on the Surface Runoff and Nutrient Load in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

Xiao Zhang, Xiaomin Chen, Wanshun Zhang, Hong Peng, Gaohong Xu, Yanxin Zhao and Zhenling Shen
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Xiao Zhang: Department of Environmental Science &Engineering, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
Xiaomin Chen: Changjiang Survey Planning Design and Research Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430010, China
Wanshun Zhang: Department of Environmental Science &Engineering, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
Hong Peng: Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydropower, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Gaohong Xu: Bureau of Hydrology, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan 430010, China
Yanxin Zhao: Water Environment Institute, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China
Zhenling Shen: Department of Environmental Science &Engineering, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Dramatic changes in land use/cover (LULC) patterns have taken place in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which have led to hydrological and environment alterations. In this study, eight land use scenarios from 1980 to 2018 were used to evaluate the impact of LULC changes on runoff and nutrient load in the TGRA, using a validated version of the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Firstly, we analyzed the LULC characteristic. During the 38-year period, the LULC pattern showed an increase in forestland and a decrease in cropland. The cropland mainly changed into forestland. Construction land realized growth by encroaching mainly on cropland and forestland. Secondly, the temporal–spatial characteristics of runoff and nutrient load were analyzed. In the TGRA, surface runoff and nutrient load exhibited significant tempo-spatial heterogeneity. The runoff depth and the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads increased through 1980 to 2018, and 2005 was a turning point. After 2005, the annual average change rate was larger than before 2005. The area with a larger runoff depth was mainly distributed in the head and middle region as well as on the left bank of the TGRA. The middle and tail region of the TGRA generated relatively higher TN and TP loads. Lastly, the contributions of LULC types on runoff and nutrient load were explored. Forestland had the highest contribution rate to surface runoff, followed by cropland. Cropland had the highest contribution rate to TN and TP, follow by forestland. This study can provide a better understanding of the hydrological consequences of LULC changes and help watershed management in the TGRA.

Keywords: Three Gorge Reservoir; land use/cover change; surface runoff; nutrient load; spatio-temporal characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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