Integrated Watershed Management

Integrated Watershed Management

Comparative analysis of watershed health and sustainability assessment models and indicators with a focus on improving management decision-making

Document Type : Review article

Authors
Ehsan Fathi 1
Ali Talebi 1
Mohammadreza Ekhtesasi 1
Jamal Mosaffaie 2
1 Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Desert Studies, Yazd University. Yazd. Iran
2 Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/iwm.2024.2033191.1160
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction: Watershed management refers to a set of actions and methods aimed at protecting and improving the quality and quantity of water and soil resources in these areas. The goal of this management is to reduce soil erosion, control floods, improve water quality, and preserve biodiversity. Assessing the health and sustainability of watersheds is a valuable tool for identifying and determining appropriate management strategies for the various human, ecological, and managerial aspects of the watershed. In this context, various methods and indicators have been developed to assess watershed health and sustainability, allowing for the determination of their health status and sustainability levels. This study aims to review some of the methods and indicators used in assessing watershed health and sustainability, such as the Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI), the Enhanced Water Poverty Index (EWPI), the RRV conceptual model, the PSR framework, and the Watershed Health Assessment Framework (WHAF).
Materials and methods: This research, examines and analyzes various indicators and models for assessing the health and sustainability of watersheds. indicators such as the WSI, which includes four sub-indicators; hydrology, environment, life, and policy and the EWPI, which consists of five sub-indicators; resources, access, capacity, use, and environment have been reviewed. Additionally, the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) conceptual model, which utilizes criteria and indicators such as hydrology, human factors, climate, and other related factors, has been analyzed. The RRV model, which combines three indicators; reliability, resilience, and vulnerability to measure the efficiency of a system, has also been examined. Finally, the WHAF index, with its five sub-indicators; hydrology, geomorphology, water quality, connectivity, and biology has been studied. The data required for utilizing these indicators and models are collected from various sources, such as regional water authorities, agricultural organizations, completing questionnaires, and software like RS and GIS. These data include environmental, socio-economic information, and various qualitative aspects, which are essential for a precise and comprehensive assessment of watershed health and sustainability.
Results and Discussion: The analysis indicates that each of the presented indicators and models has its own specific strengths and weaknesses and can be utilized under different conditions and for varying objectives. The WSI provides a useful tool for a comprehensive evaluation of watershed sustainability, with the capability to analyze various dimensions of sustainability, including both physical and human aspects. However, the need for precise and extensive data for each sub-indicator is one of the main challenges in using it. The EWPI emphasizes water poverty and resource management, with a stronger focus on economic aspects and access to resources. This index can help identify areas that face challenges in accessing water resources. However, its drawbacks include incomplete coverage of environmental aspects and the lack of consideration for spatial and temporal changes. The PSR model, by integrating various criteria, provides a comprehensive assessment of the pressures on the watershed and the existing management responses. This model is particularly effective in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of watershed management systems and can be utilized as a tool to support managerial decision-making. The RRV model assesses the sustainability of systems based on their ability to cope with changes and threats. This model is well-suited for evaluating the effectiveness of management systems and predicting vulnerable points. The WHAF index provides a comprehensive framework for assessing watershed health. This index is particularly useful for a thorough analysis of the environmental status of the watershed. However, effective use of the WHAF index requires comprehensive and accurate data across all relevant areas.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings of this review study indicate that the use of various indicators and models can enhance the understanding of watershed health and sustainability. However, challenges such as data scarcity, the need for extensive spatial and temporal coverage, and the lack of consideration for all environmental aspects in some of these models and indicators are observed. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate indicator or model should be based on the specific conditions of the watershed and the management objectives to achieve the best outcomes. Future research is recommended to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of these indicators and models in real-world conditions in various study areas. Such studies could contribute to the further improvement of these tools and enhance their applicability in water resource management and environmental conservation.
Keywords
Ecosystem
Environmental Policymaking
Hydrology
Sustainable Management
Watershed Conservation

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 20 June 2024
  • Revise Date 16 August 2024
  • Accept Date 03 September 2024