Ecologically-friendly operation scheme for the Jinping cascaded reservoirs in the Yalongjiang River, China

doi:10.1007/s11707-013-0396-5

Front. Earth Sci.

2014, Vol. 8

Issue (2) : 282-290 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-013-0396-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ecologically-friendly operation scheme for the Jinping cascaded reservoirs in the Yalongjiang River, China

Duan CHEN^1,²,Qiuwen CHEN^1,^3,^*(

),Ruonan LI¹,Koen BLANCKAERT¹,Desuo CAI⁴

1. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
2. Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430010, China
3. Nanjing Hydraulics Research Institute, Nanjing 210023, China
4. Guangxi Water Conservancy Department, Nanning 530023, China

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Abstract

Ecologically-friendly reservoir operation procedures aim to conserve key ecosystem properties in the rivers, while minimizing the sacrifice of socioeconomic interests. This study focused on the Jinping cascaded reservoirs as a case study. An optimization model was developed to explore a balance between the ecological flow requirement (EFR) of a target fish species (Schizothorax chongi) in the dewatered natural channel section, and annual power production. The EFR for the channel was determined by the Tennant method and a fish habitat model, respectively.βThe optimization model was solved by using an adaptive real-coded genetic algorithm. Several operation scenarios corresponding to the ecological flow series were evaluated using the optimization model. Through comparisons, an optimal operational scheme, which combines relatively low power production loss with a preferred ecological flow regime in the dewatered channel, is proposed for the cascaded reservoirs. Under the recommended scheme, the discharge into the Dahewan river reach in the dry season ranges from 36 to 50 m³/s. This will enable at least 50% of the target fish habitats in the channel to be conserved, at a cost of only 2.5% annual power production loss. The study demonstrates that the use of EFRs is an efficient approach to the optimization of reservoir operation in an ecologically friendly way. Similar modeling, for other important fish species and ecosystem functions, supplemented by field validation of results, is needed in order to secure the long-term conservation of the affected river ecosystem.

Keywords ecologically-friendly operation optimization model ecological flow Jinping cascaded reservoirs Schizothorax chongi

Corresponding Author(s): Qiuwen CHEN

Issue Date: 24 June 2014

Cite this article:

Duan CHEN,Qiuwen CHEN,Ruonan LI, et al. Ecologically-friendly operation scheme for the Jinping cascaded reservoirs in the Yalongjiang River, China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2014, 8(2): 282-290.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-013-0396-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2014/V8/I2/282

Fig.1 Sketch of the JP cascade project together with over-wintering and spawning fields of Schizothorax chongi fish in the Dahewan Reach.

Fig.2 Flowchart of the GA optimization procedure.

Tab.1 Habitat status and corresponding discharges into the Dahewan Reach using the Tennant method

Tab.2 Habitat status and corresponding discharge in the Dahewan Reach using the habitat model

Tab.3 Operation schemes constrained by the eco-hydrograph from the Tennant method

Fig.3 Relation between percentage of average flow and power production loss.

Tab.4 Operation schemes constrained by the eco-hydrograph from habitat method

Fig.4 Relation between percentage of WUA and power production loss.

Fig.5 Operational water levels upstream of the cascaded reservoirs.

Fig.6 Discharge from JP-1 reservoir under the proposed operation scheme.

Fig.7 Discharge from JP-2 reservoir under the proposed operation scheme.

Fig.8 Discharge in the dewatered river reach under proposed operation scheme.

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