Optimizing Hydrodynamic Regulation in Coastal Plain River Networks in Eastern China: A MIKE11-Based Partitioned Water Allocation Framework for Flood Control and Water Quality Enhancement

The effective management of river networks in coastal plains is crucial to flood control, water quality improvement, and sustainable flow distribution. This study aims to optimize the hydrodynamic performance of a plain river network in eastern China through water diversion and circulation scheduling, addressing challenges such as channel narrowing and sedimentation. This research study utilized a partitioned water allocation approach modeled in MIKE11 to simulate the effects of various diversion projects, including locks and connecting rivers, on the primary conveyance channel and supporting rivers. The simulation results indicated that flow velocities exceeded 0.1 m/s in most rivers, with significant improvements in flood discharge and water quality in the main conveyance channel and one supporting river. However, some sections of the network showed poor hydrodynamic performance due to narrow channels, encroachment, and sedimentation, and smaller rivers exhibited inadequate flow capacity. The findings provide critical insights for optimizing hydrodynamic regulation in coastal plain river systems, emphasizing the need to address specific issues to enhance overall network performance and flood resilience.