Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global warming is intensifying and complicating hydrological and associated processes worldwide, thereby affecting water security. The coupling of water, sediments, carbon, and nutrients in watersheds is a central bottleneck that needs to be elucidated. The subsequent transport and transformation of waterborne materials can also affect river ecosystem health and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the mechanisms of these processes in response to environmental change is largely unknown. Addressing these problems will contribute to the rational management of water resources and effective response of water disasters in the world. Most countries are facing unprecedented pressure on water resources today. Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population, and a deficit of 40% will continue to be present between water demand and the available supply by 2030. Chronic water scarcity and extreme weather events (floods and droughts) have become the biggest threats to global prosperity and sustainability, associated with rapid economic development. A better understanding of the effects of the changing environment on water resources is therefore desired to strengthen water security against hydrological uncertainty and anthropogenic complexity.

For this topic, innovative ideas and new modeling techniques are welcome in relation to assisting hydrological and associated processes and sustainable water resources from a multidisciplinary background. We encourage submissions on, but not limited to, surface and subsurface hydrological processes and coupled water–sediment modeling, riverine carbon–nitrogen transport, riverine greenhouse emissions, trade-offs of water–grain–energy–ecological systems, the coordinated development of the ecology–water–economy system, water resources conservation and optimization allocation, water policies adapting to extreme weather events, decision-support systems and/or decision-making frameworks, risk assessments on water scarcity and flooding/drought disasters, and information systems development for water resources monitoring, modeling, forecasting, and warning, as well as recycling and reuse schemes for storm water, wastewater, and non-conventional water sources, as these are all topics of interest.

Prof. Dr. Genxu Wang
Prof. Dr. Lei Wang
Prof. Dr. Baoqing Zhang
Prof. Dr. Shouqin Sun
Dr. Gholamreza (Bahman) Naser
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Atmosphere atmosphere	2.6	5.4	2010	20.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Forests forests	3.1	5.4	2010	17.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Hydrology hydrology	3.1	6.0	2014	16.5 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.3	9.4	2009	22 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	4.1	8.9	2009	16.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.5	6.7	2009	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Atmosphere Hydrology Remote Sensing Sustainability Water Forests

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16 pages, 7616 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal and Future Changes in Water Use Efficiency in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China Under Climate Warming and Vegetation Greening

by Yujiao Liu, Mengzhu Liu, Borui Li and Hongwei Pei

Hydrology 2026, 13(8), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13080205 - 28 Jul 2026

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Abstract

The water use efficiency (WUE) in North China is undergoing rapid changes due to climate warming and vegetation “greening”, significantly impacting the ecosystem’s carbon and water cycles. Existing research lacks quantitative analysis of WUE or an understanding of future trends. This study selected [...] Read more.

The water use efficiency (WUE) in North China is undergoing rapid changes due to climate warming and vegetation “greening”, significantly impacting the ecosystem’s carbon and water cycles. Existing research lacks quantitative analysis of WUE or an understanding of future trends. This study selected the rapidly greening Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China (APENC) as a case study, utilizing linear regression, Hurst index analysis, and residual analysis to analyze the past and future changes and driving mechanisms of WUE. The results indicated that: (1) The multi-year (2001–2023) annual mean WUE in the APENC spatially ranged from 0.32 to 2.50 g C kg⁻¹ H₂O. (2) Gross primary productivity (GPP), evapotranspiration (ET), and WUE showed significant increasing trends of 10.22 g C m⁻² yr⁻², 5.62 kg H₂O m⁻² yr⁻², and 0.01 g C kg⁻¹ H₂O yr⁻¹, respectively. (3) Precipitation had highly positive impacts on GPP and ET, while non-climatic factors (land use, human activities, etc.) explained 62% of WUE variations in the APENC, and energy conditions (air temperature and solar radiation) were not the decisive factor of WUE. (4) The Hurst exponent of WUE indicates that WUE in the APENC region generally exhibits anti-persistent behavior. In terms of future trends, WUE is projected to shift from rising to declining in 58.9% of the region, while 28.5% is expected to continue increasing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2680 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Characteristics of the Water Conservation Functions of Ecosystems in the Yi–Luo River Basin

by Yong Wang, Yufeng Ma, Shuangquan Li, Jie Ren, Pengfei Hou, Fajun Qian and Mengke Zhu

Sustainability 2026, 18(15), 7536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18157536 - 24 Jul 2026

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Abstract

Water conservation is among the most important ecosystem service functions, and its dynamic changes can reflect the health of regional ecosystems. As one of the ten major tributaries of the Yellow River, the Yi–Luo River in Henan Province plays a significant role in [...] Read more.

Water conservation is among the most important ecosystem service functions, and its dynamic changes can reflect the health of regional ecosystems. As one of the ten major tributaries of the Yellow River, the Yi–Luo River in Henan Province plays a significant role in maintaining regional ecological health through the ecosystem water conservation functions of its basin. To explore the characteristics of these functions, this study employed ecosystem transfer matrix and water balance methods to analyze the changes in ecosystem types in the basin and the dynamic changes in the corresponding water conservation functions from 2010 to 2020. The results showed that from 2010 to 2020, the dominant ecosystem types were farmland, forestland, and shrubland, and the main transformations between different ecosystem types were from farmland to urban areas and wetland, from grassland to shrubland, and from shrubland to forestland. The water conservation functions of the different ecosystem types varied significantly, with the average water conservation capacities ranked as follows: forestland > wetland > shrubland > grassland > farmland > others > urban areas. Due to the decreased water conservation depths in the forestland and shrubland ecosystems, the overall water conservation depth decreased over the study period. In addition, the water conservation capacities of the farmland, forestland, and shrubland ecosystems were the highest, reaching 12.94 × 10⁸, 12.15 × 10⁸ and 9.73 × 10⁸ tons, respectively, accounting for 34.47%, 32.35%, and 25.91% of the total water conservation capacity, respectively. Overall, water conservation in the study area was high in the south and low in the north, and there was an overall decreasing trend over time. Moreover, the regions with critical and important water conservation functions accounted for the largest proportion (47.2%). The critical and important regions were mainly located in the higher altitudes of Luanchuan County and Lushi county, while the moderate and average regions were primarily located in the plains, and weak regions were distributed mainly in the urban area of Luoyang city. Through analysis of the spatiotemporal changes and degree of importance of water conservation functions in the Yi–Luo River Basin, the key regions for ecological protection and construction were identified. The study results can be used to help enhance ecological security in the Yellow River Basin of Henan Province and play a significant role in promoting the regional economy as well as the health and sustainable development of the ecological environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 5981 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Riverbed Evolution Characteristics of Boulder Bar Reach in Mountain River

by Chen Ye, Ran Guo, Jing Xiao and Ming Lei

Water 2026, 18(14), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18141720 - 16 Jul 2026

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Abstract

Variable sediment supply and widely graded bed materials modify boulder–bar development, sediment transport and bar evolution in mountain mixed-size reaches. To elucidate the evolution characteristics of bars in boulder-strewn mountain river segments, this study conducted flume experiments. By adjusting parameters including discharge, boulder [...] Read more.

Variable sediment supply and widely graded bed materials modify boulder–bar development, sediment transport and bar evolution in mountain mixed-size reaches. To elucidate the evolution characteristics of bars in boulder-strewn mountain river segments, this study conducted flume experiments. By adjusting parameters including discharge, boulder position, and boulder protrusion height, the paper analyzes bed scour and deposition deformations under various conditions. Results show discharge growth intensifies bed deformation: Both bar area and volume increase with rising discharge, with longer downstream bar extension and a positive correlation between bar length–width ratio and velocity. Higher boulder protrusion height and exposure amplify scour depth, expand bars laterally and reduce scour pit width–depth ratios. Boulders at bar heads migrate furthest downstream; moving boulders toward bar tails increases bar area/volume while bar height peaks then declines. Bar scale follows mid-channel bar head > bar tail > side anabranches. Boulder embedding depth linearly rises with exposure, both parameters positively linked to post-scour bar volume loss. The stable co-evolutionary relationship between scour depth and extent (R² = 0.849) confirms their synchronized development under varying flow and boulder conditions. Boulders limit downstream bar elongation, flat beds boost scour diffusion, and scour pit width–depth ratio positively correlates with flow velocity. This work offers experimental and mechanistic references for mountain river geomorphic prediction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition)

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33 pages, 2685 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Variation in Water Quality in a High-Andean Protected Area: A Multivariate Analysis of the Diablo Sacha River, Ecuador

by María Fernanda Rivera-Velásquez, Cristina Gabriela Cóndor-Simbaña, Cristhian Mauricio Lapo-Alcivar, Gibson José Pambi-Lalangui, Nathaly Estefanía Armijos-Oviedo and Luis Santiago Carrera Almendariz

Water 2026, 18(11), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18111330 - 30 May 2026

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High-Andean páramo ecosystems regulate streamflow and water quality through water storage, subsurface flow, and natural hydrogeochemical buffering. However, increasing land-use pressures may generate early water-quality signals that are difficult to distinguish from natural geogenic variability in protected headwater catchments. This study evaluated the [...] Read more.

High-Andean páramo ecosystems regulate streamflow and water quality through water storage, subsurface flow, and natural hydrogeochemical buffering. However, increasing land-use pressures may generate early water-quality signals that are difficult to distinguish from natural geogenic variability in protected headwater catchments. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal variability of water quality in the Diablo Sacha River, located within the Quinllunga Water Protection Area, Ecuador. Water samples were collected at ten monitoring stations during six bimonthly campaigns from March 2024 to January 2025, generating 60 spatiotemporal observations per parameter. An integrated hydrogeochemical and multivariate framework was applied, combining Piper diagrams, Spearman correlation analysis, independent principal component analyses for hydrogeochemical and anthropogenic variables, and two-way PERMANOVA. Results showed a predominant Ca–Mg–HCO₃ hydrochemical facies, indicating that water chemistry is mainly controlled by natural mineral weathering, water–rock interaction, and longitudinal solute accumulation. The hydrogeochemical PCA explained 52.75% of the variance and identified a mineralization gradient associated with EC, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and hydrological dilution. The anthropogenic PCA explained 61.77% of the variance and revealed secondary signals related to nutrients, organic matter, suspended solids, oils and grease, and microbiological indicators. PERMANOVA confirmed significant spatiotemporal structuring for hydrogeochemical variables and seasonal modulation for anthropogenic indicators. Overall, the Diablo Sacha River functions as a hydrogeochemically buffered high-Andean headwater system, where natural páramo processes maintain water-quality stability, while emerging anthropogenic signals act as early-warning indicators of ecosystem pressure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2672 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Ecological Water Use: Simulation of Soil Water Transport in Desert Riparian Forests of the Lower Tarim River Under Overflow Irrigation

by Mengyao Zhang, Pei Zhang, Xiaoya Deng, Yang Hai, Aihua Long, Xiao Han and Jiateng Qi

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104844 - 12 May 2026

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Abstract

To enhance the utilization efficiency of limited ecological water, this study conducted field ecological irrigation experiments in a typical desert riparian forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Based on the experimental data, a soil water transport model under the overflow [...] Read more.

To enhance the utilization efficiency of limited ecological water, this study conducted field ecological irrigation experiments in a typical desert riparian forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Based on the experimental data, a soil water transport model under the overflow irrigation mode was constructed using the HYDRUS-2D (version 2.04) model. Based on the model, numerical simulation scenarios of different irrigation schemes were designed to provide key evidence for the scientific utilization of water resources in the ecological restoration of desert riparian forests. Simulation results indicate that (1) more irrigation water does not necessarily yield better results. When the total irrigation volume is the same, conducting overflow irrigation in two separate applications significantly outperforms a single concentrated irrigation in terms of soil moisture replenishment and maintenance, with an optimal interval of 20 h between applications. (2) For single overflow irrigation, the optimal water depth is 5 cm. (3) For two-stage irrigation, the available water resources and core objectives must be considered. When water is plentiful, and it is necessary to replenish moisture in the lower soil layers, the 5 cm + 5 cm scheme is optimal; if irrigation water is limited, the 3 cm + 3 cm scheme is more efficient. These schemes can effectively activate the seed bank in the surface soil while supplying water to the root systems of desert riparian vegetation, thereby promoting the restoration and growth of desert vegetation and achieving the goal of ecological sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Ecohydrology and Water Resources Sustainability, 2nd Edition)

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