Author(s): Francisco Herrera; Eva Contreras; Rafael Pimentel; Maria Jose Polo-Gomez; Javier Aparicio; Ana Andreu
Linked Author(s): Rafael Pimentel, María José Polo Gómez
Keywords: Environmental flow; Hydrometeorology; Riparian vegetation; Remote sensing
Abstract: The Water Framework Directive aims to ensure the good status of water bodies and introduces the concept of environmental flow to maintain the natural variability required for these ecosystems to function. This study examines the local flow regime of three reservoirs on the Guadalquivir River and explores how remotely sensed riparian vegetation dynamics can help assess ecological status and guide flow threshold definition. Results show that reservoir flows frequently fail to meet the requirements established in the basin plan, with differing levels of non-compliance that highlight the need for reservoir-specific management strategies. NDVI captures riparian phenological cycles but responds to multiple environmental drivers, revealing complex, non-linear relationships with flow. NDVI monitoring helps detect abnormal vegetation dynamics and supports adaptive environmental flow management.
Year: 2026