Year 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2
| Year : | 2018 |
| Volume : | 3 |
| Issue : | 2 |
| Authors : | Seyed Hamidreza SADEGHI, Somayeh KAZEMI KIA, Zeinab HAZBAVI, Mahdi ERFANIAN, Seyed Mohammad Sadegh MOVAHED |
| Title : | A BLUEPRINT FOR ELEMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE WATERSHED SPECIFICATION |
| Abstract : | Provision of ecosystem services is necessary for our quality of life. In this vein, it is critical to develop a baseline to monitor the ecosystem behavior using monitoring, mapping, and modeling indicators of landscape condition. The representative watersheds (RWs) can therefore be considered as such decision blueprint to implement the best management practices to conserve and consequently improve ecosystem services. There are few researches for the selection of RWs. However, the comprehensive and of course applicable methodologies still are lacked particularly in developing countries where concentration and proper directing of conservation measures are further needed owing to investments constraints. Therefore, in the present study, an intensive watershed selection process was undertaken to identify RW across the Gharesoo-Gorgan River Basin (ca. 12987 km2), Golestan Province, Iran. This study aimed to adopt the Laize’s approach in Gharesoo-Gorgan Watershed for identifying the representative sub-watershed. Towards this, four GIS-based layers of elevation, slope, rainfall erosivity and land use were selected for sub-watersheds characterization. The representative watershed index (RWI) was then calculated and mapped using MATLAB 2016 and ArcGIS 10.3 softwares, respectively. The RWI was calculated pixel wise for all nine individual sub-watersheds and the entire watershed as reference area with the help of matrix combinations of four study layers. Ultimately, RWIs obtained from 21.3 to 62.6 with mean of 44.94±14.49 and coefficient of variation of 32.25% were used for sub-watershed prioritization. Accordingly, the sub-watershed 8 in north east with RWI of 56.8 was proposed as the final RW for the whole Gharesoo-Gorgan Watershed. The results of the study is helpful to be used by authorities for launching monitoring systems in the RW to collect behavioral indicators leading to designation of reasonable eco-environmental restoration strategies. |
| For citation : | Hamidreza Sadeghi, S., Kazemi Kia, S., Hazbavi, Z., Erfanian, M., Sadegh Movahed, S.M. (2018). A blueprint for elementary representative watershed specification. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 3. Issue No. 2. pp. 129-135. DOI: 10.7251/AGRENG1802129S |
| Keywords : | Environment protection, geographic information system, integrated watershed management, watershed prioritization |
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ISSN 2490-3434 (Printed)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
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