A review of methods to measure, model, and manage hydrologic connectivity for improving catchment resilience and ecosystem health.
Figure. Hydrologic connectivity: advancing measurement, interdisciplinary integration, and management to support ecosystem health and resilient water resources under environmental change. Image courtesy of Susana Roque-Malo, Convey Scientific Graphics.
The Science
This review examines the impact of water movement, known as hydrologic connectivity, on landscapes and ecosystems, particularly during periods of climate change and human development. It explains that traditional tools often fail to show how water moves through both surface and underground areas. The authors describe three types of connectivity (longitudinal, lateral, and vertical) and two main zones (surface and subsurface). They review methods for studying water movement, including fieldwork, satellite data, and computer models. The review also emphasizes the importance of scientists from various fields collaborating, utilizing common data measurement methods, and leveraging real-time tools enhanced by artificial intelligence. It suggests combining knowledge from ecology, geology, and chemistry to improve water management and protect the environment.
The Impact
This paper offers a new way to manage water resources by promoting strategies that consider the entire system. It warns that focusing solely on individual aspects of the puzzle is insufficient to address floods, droughts, and changes in land use or wildlife. The authors call for integrated methods that combine modern tools, such as drones, wireless sensors, and AI, with hands-on field studies. These approaches are especially useful for restoring wetlands and reconnecting rivers with floodplains. By translating science into action, this review enables researchers and decision-makers to better plan for healthy, resilient water systems.
Summary
Hydrologic connectivity refers to how water—and the substances it carries, such as energy, nutrients, and living organisms—moves through a watershed. It influences key processes, such as water quality, flood control, and wildlife movement. The paper breaks down connectivity into surface, underground, and surface–undeground types, as well as into directions: along rivers (longitudinal), from rivers to floodplains (lateral), and between the surface and underground water (vertical).
Scientists measure connectivity using methods such as dye tracing, soil moisture sensors, and satellites, including InSAR and GRACE. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on the area and the subject being studied.
The review compares three kinds of models: (1) process-based, which simulate real-world flow but need a lot of data and computing power; (2) network or graph-based, which map water pathways but often miss how they change over time; and (3) integrated models, which combine water, climate, and biology but are hard to set up.
The authors encourage teamwork across scientific fields, shared data standards, and the use of new tools like AI and camera mapping. They highlight real-world fixes—like using beaver dam replicas or reconnecting rivers and floodplains—as ways to restore natural water flow. Overall, the paper calls for flexible, science-based plans to manage water in a rapidly changing world.
Contact
Dipankar Dwivedi
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Eoin L. Brodie, Watershed Function SFA LRM
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publications
Dwivedi, D., Poeppl, R.E., & Wohl, E. (2025). Hydrological connectivity: A review and emerging strategies for integrating measurement, modeling, and management. Frontiers in Water, 7, 1496199. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2025.1496199