Analysis of low flows in semi arid watersheds (Case study: Söğütözü Creek and Terme Stream watersheds)

Main purpose of this study which is conducted on the Terme and Söğütözü watersheds in Çankırı city is analyzing the low flows physically, chemically and hydrological that happens in the dry season and ascertaining the correlation of the water quality and the discharge of those watersheds. By the help of watershed characteristic, water quality measurements and trend analyses; reasons and results (effects, conclusions. etc.) has propounded.Low flows that is been formed at rivers in dry season has such great importance for disposal and also for ecosystem. To use that water in the most efficient way, requisite working should have been done about that. To provide that, mainly; by using daily flow data of forty-three years period between 1967?2010; low flow calculation has been done in each watershed. According to the data from these calculations, at summer months that low flows is being seen which belong to watersheds, water sampling has been done every week at same day and same time. Besides, it has been researched on the low flow indices calculated for every single year that if there is any trend existence as per years. İn that research period, to affiliate the correlation between low flow discharge and water quality, out of eighteen parameters, pyshical and chemical analyses has been done on twenty-eight water samplesAs a conclusion, in Söğütözü Watershed, between discharge and phenolphthalein alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, nitrate, turbidity, pH and salt; in Terme Watershed between discharge and methyl orange alkalinity, orthophosphate, nitrate, turbidity, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salt; it has been put as a result that there is such meaningful correlation. Only one meaningful trend has been observed for just Q95 flow process indices among five different indices that is been used at low flow calculations.