Regulated rivers in the United Kingdom

摘要: This paper identifies the principal regulated rivers in Britain and summarizes their physical ecological characteristics. Virtually all major United Kingdom are shown to be directly or indirectly by mainstream impoundments, interbasin transfers, pumped storage reservoirs, groundwater abstractions. Flow records for sixty per cent of gauging stations significantly affected flow manipulations. Three phases development river regulation identified: firstly, direct supply compensation reservoirs from 1840; secondly, large dams large-scale water transfers 1890; thirdly, modern era multipurpose that began 1965. Any assessment environmental effects must consider spatial variation natural systems throughout U.K., climatic changes, cumulative effect other impacts over an historic timescale. Today, U.K. have underlying character reflects marked climatic, geologic, topographic differences between upland north west, lowland south east; part relate different histories during Pleistocene. However, many show human about 5000 years ago. Most experienced changes since 1930 consequent upon afforestaton, land drainage, channelization. These, together with short-term make defining problematic. Pollution has had most dramatic effects. Nevertheless, it is suggested new concepts environmentally sound could lead restoration even enhancement Kingdom.