Comparative assessment of Watershed Hydrological Health (WHH) using multi-criteria decision-making approach based on PSR framework.

Abstract

The health of a watershed is a crucial aspect that involves evaluating ecological, hydrological, and human factors to determine its overall well-being and functionality. Hydrological components are key parts of a watershed. Therefore, the present study aims to assess Watershed Hydrological Health (WHH) using the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework and to compare WHH priorities derived from Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approaches in the Gorganroud Watershed, Iran. To do this, with a problem-oriented approach, 16 hydrological criteria were conceptualized in three indices of Pressure (P), State (S), and Response (R) (PSR). In the next step, each of the mentioned criteria was quantified in 16 sub-watersheds of the Gorganroud Watershed. Finally, WHH was calculated based on the PSR framework. According to the criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, the criteria were then weighted, and WHH was calculated using three MCDM methods. To compare the results, the results of the PSR framework were used as the basis and compared with three MCDM methods. The results showed that WHH values in the Gorganroud Watershed ranged from 0.31 to 0.67 in S15 and S9, respectively. Overall, the weighted average WHH in the watershed was 0.52, indicating moderate conditions. Weighting results showed that criteria C4 and C14 had the highest and lowest weights, respectively. WHH priorities based on MCDM methods showed that in the ELimination Et Choice Translating REality (ELECTRE) and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) methods, sub-watershed S9 had the highest WHH priority, while in the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, sub-watershed S7 achieved the highest priority. Among these, the ELECTRE and SAW methods performed better in determining WHH priorities and are recommended for future research.