Temporal analysis of river flow health index of the Shahrchai river under the dam regulating effect

The increasing human needs and changes in climate patterns have led to the construction of water storage structures to meet the water demand in many regions worldwide, including Iran. Consequently, the hydrological regimes of rivers in various parts of Iran, due to human activities such as dam construction, have undergone alterations in recent decades. Understanding the effects of dams on river hydrological regimes is essential for river flow management and the preservation of river ecosystems. In this regard, the present study assesses the changes in the health of the Urmia's Shahrchai River flow during three periods: pre-dam construction, dam construction, and dam operation, from 1951 to 2017, through calculating different flow health related indices. The results indicate that the deviation of all hydrological health sub-indices in the post-dam construction period is higher than the pre-dam construction period. Moreover, the deviation of flow regime sub-indicators was predominantly low to moderate until 1998 and varied from low to very high after 1998. Additionally, the highest deviation of studied flow health-related indices occurred during the reference and dam operation periods for flood occurrence and minimum monthly flow, respectively, while during the dam construction period, it pertained to minimum monthly flow. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the hydrologic health of Shahrchai River flow decreased by approximately 16% and 45% during the dam construction/operation periods, respectively, compared to the reference period. The results of this study can be utilized in the understanding of flow alteration and the sustainable regulation of the Shahrchai River flow regime.