Severity and extent of alterations to natural streamflow regimes based on hydrologic metrics in the conterminous United States, 1980–2014
Alteration of the natural streamflow regime by land and water management, such as land-cover change and dams, is associated with aquatic ecosystem degradation. The severity and geographic extent of streamflow alteration at regional and national scales, however, remain largely unquantified. The primary goal of this study is to characterize the severity and extent of alterations to natural streamflow regimes for 1980–2014 based on hydrologic metrics at 3,355 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in the conterminous United States. Twelve hydrologic metrics with known relevance to aquatic ecosystem health were used to characterize the streamflow regime. Alterations to the 12 hydrologic metrics were quantified by taking ratios of the metrics calculated from observed daily streamflow records divided by the same metrics predicted for natural conditions by random forest statistical models. Some level of streamflow alteration (diminishment or inflation of hydrologic metrics) compared to natural conditions was indicated at about 80 percent of the assessed streamgages across the conterminous United States. The severity of alteration differed among ecoregions because of differences in dominant land and water management practices. Finally, when compared over the period 1980–2014, climate variability generally played a minor role in the alteration of streamflows across the United States when compared to the effects of land and water management.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Title | Severity and extent of alterations to natural streamflow regimes based on hydrologic metrics in the conterminous United States, 1980–2014 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20195001 |
| Authors | Ken Eng, Daren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, David M. Wolock, Rosaly L. Eng |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series Number | 2019-5001 |
| Index ID | sir20195001 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | WMA - Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division |
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Daren M Carlisle, Ph.D.
Manager, Ecological Flows Program
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Hydrologic metric changes across the conterminous United States
This metadata record describes the following eight attributes: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gage identification number, (2) aggregated level 2 ecoregion, (3) hydrologic metric abbreviation, (4) direct-human modification classification of watershed, (5) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1950 to 2014, (6) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1980 to 2014, (7) observed hydrologic - Connect
Daren M Carlisle, Ph.D.
Manager, Ecological Flows ProgramEmailPhone