Hydrology and the River Environment

This text presents an up-to-date account of environmental hydrology, a contemporary means of describing the basic system of water circulation, patterns of runoff, and how hydrology is altered by development and industry. The author focuses particularly on the utility of river basins and catchments because they are the basic experimental, data-gathering, and water management units. Numerous methodological frameworks are considered, most of which rely on traditional methods of statistical and scientific analysis. In the case of freshwater environments, however, where key data are relatively scarce, the author takes a holistic approach by utilizing information regarding policy, law, attitudes, and preferences in the formulation of a theoretical framework. He concludes with a consideration of the utility of our current knowledge of environmental hydrology, providing the reader with a practical look at the conservation of fresh water. This book will be welcomed by conservationists and students and teachers of hydrology.