In recent decades, the development of methodologies for the hydromorpho‐ logical stream assessment has significantly expanded (Belletti et al., 2015; Rinaldi et al., 2017). This process has been accelerated by the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 / EC (WFD) (European Commission, 2000), which recognises hydromorphology as an important element for the classification of ecological quality of streams and for the evaluation of management strategies of river ecosystems (Rinaldi et al., 2013,2017). In this context, in Italy a methodological framework for hydromofological assessment analysis and monitoring, named IDRAIM, has been developed by the Italian National Institute for Envi‐ ronmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) (Rinaldi et al., 2015). This methodology, which aims at promoting integrated river management, introduces the Mor‐ phological Quality Index (MQI): an assessment procedure based on a scoring system consisting of a set of 28 indicators. The evaluation of this index, by giving information about the quality of a specific reach, can represent a starting point for management or restoration actions. (Rinaldi et al. 2013, 2014, 2015). In line with the European Directives, in Calabria, the Sila National Park Agency has promoted a research program ‐ in collaboration with the “Hydraulics and Urban Hydrology Lab (LIU)” (Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Calabria) ‐ aimed at evaluating the mor‐ phological quality of two Calabrian streams: the Garga Creek and the Lese River. Thus, the main objective of this paper is the analysis of the different work phases and of the re‐ sults obtained in terms of MQI applied to some sections of the two Calabrian streams. In agreement with the methodology reported in Rinaldi et al. (2013, 2014, 2015), the application of this procedure has required a series of analytical steps. More in detail, the first phase has been finalized to the identification of physiographic units and segments, confinement typolo‐ gies, morphological typologies, and to the final subdivision of the river network into relatively homogenous reaches. Furthermore, in the second phase, the morphological quality has been evaluated, by assigning for each indicator ‐ analyzed in terms of geomorphological functionali‐ ty, artificiality, and channel adjustments ‐ a score that quantified the deviation from the undis‐ turbed condition. The overall evaluation was carried out by making an integrated use of GIS analysis, and field survey. After this step, the Morphological Alteration Index (MAI) and, con‐ sequently, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) were defined first at reach scale, and then the overall MQI for each case study was evaluated. The results obtained in terms of the overall MQI are positive for both case studies. Specifically, for the Garga Creek an MQI value equals to 0.84, which corresponds to a morphological quality class “good”, was found; while the Lese River, with an MQI of 0.95, presents a ʺhighʺ morpho‐ logical quality class.
The Morphological Quality Index (MGI) assessment: application to two case studies in the Sila national park.
Talarico V. C.;Palermo S. A.;Turco M.;Frega F.;Piro P.Supervision
2019-01-01
Abstract
In recent decades, the development of methodologies for the hydromorpho‐ logical stream assessment has significantly expanded (Belletti et al., 2015; Rinaldi et al., 2017). This process has been accelerated by the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 / EC (WFD) (European Commission, 2000), which recognises hydromorphology as an important element for the classification of ecological quality of streams and for the evaluation of management strategies of river ecosystems (Rinaldi et al., 2013,2017). In this context, in Italy a methodological framework for hydromofological assessment analysis and monitoring, named IDRAIM, has been developed by the Italian National Institute for Envi‐ ronmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) (Rinaldi et al., 2015). This methodology, which aims at promoting integrated river management, introduces the Mor‐ phological Quality Index (MQI): an assessment procedure based on a scoring system consisting of a set of 28 indicators. The evaluation of this index, by giving information about the quality of a specific reach, can represent a starting point for management or restoration actions. (Rinaldi et al. 2013, 2014, 2015). In line with the European Directives, in Calabria, the Sila National Park Agency has promoted a research program ‐ in collaboration with the “Hydraulics and Urban Hydrology Lab (LIU)” (Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Calabria) ‐ aimed at evaluating the mor‐ phological quality of two Calabrian streams: the Garga Creek and the Lese River. Thus, the main objective of this paper is the analysis of the different work phases and of the re‐ sults obtained in terms of MQI applied to some sections of the two Calabrian streams. In agreement with the methodology reported in Rinaldi et al. (2013, 2014, 2015), the application of this procedure has required a series of analytical steps. More in detail, the first phase has been finalized to the identification of physiographic units and segments, confinement typolo‐ gies, morphological typologies, and to the final subdivision of the river network into relatively homogenous reaches. Furthermore, in the second phase, the morphological quality has been evaluated, by assigning for each indicator ‐ analyzed in terms of geomorphological functionali‐ ty, artificiality, and channel adjustments ‐ a score that quantified the deviation from the undis‐ turbed condition. The overall evaluation was carried out by making an integrated use of GIS analysis, and field survey. After this step, the Morphological Alteration Index (MAI) and, con‐ sequently, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) were defined first at reach scale, and then the overall MQI for each case study was evaluated. The results obtained in terms of the overall MQI are positive for both case studies. Specifically, for the Garga Creek an MQI value equals to 0.84, which corresponds to a morphological quality class “good”, was found; while the Lese River, with an MQI of 0.95, presents a ʺhighʺ morpho‐ logical quality class.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
