Keywords
wetlands, catchment modelling, SWAT, riparian zones
Start Date
25-6-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
25-6-2018 3:20 PM
Abstract
Riparian wetlands play a key role in the hydrological and nutrient regulation of rivers basins and are hence important features for river basin management. But, most catchment simulation tools are not able to simulate the hydrological and nutrient processes in wetlands. One important reason is that the catchment models are not properly representing the connectivity and the interactions of the wetland with the surrounding catchment and river system.
SWAT+ is a new version of SWAT that allows for more flexibility to represent interconnectivity of different types of landscape elements while building SWAT models. The SWAT+ version makes it easy to interconnect the floodplains and riparian wetlands with upland areas, groundwater resources and rivers. In this study, we used SWAT+ to connect the riparian wetland zones with rivers and upland areas and implemented new riparian wetland modules for the simulation of riverine flooding and denitrification processes.
The new SWAT+ software is tested with an application to the Little River Experimental Watershed (LREW), a 334 km2 large watershed located in the Upper Suwannee River Basin in Georgia. The LREW is characterized by broad floodplains and gently sloping uplands. Elevations range from 82 to 148 m m.s.l. The hydrologic behavior of the watershed is strongly affected by the storage capability of the channel alluvium.
Improved simulation of riparian wetland processes using SWAT+
Riparian wetlands play a key role in the hydrological and nutrient regulation of rivers basins and are hence important features for river basin management. But, most catchment simulation tools are not able to simulate the hydrological and nutrient processes in wetlands. One important reason is that the catchment models are not properly representing the connectivity and the interactions of the wetland with the surrounding catchment and river system.
SWAT+ is a new version of SWAT that allows for more flexibility to represent interconnectivity of different types of landscape elements while building SWAT models. The SWAT+ version makes it easy to interconnect the floodplains and riparian wetlands with upland areas, groundwater resources and rivers. In this study, we used SWAT+ to connect the riparian wetland zones with rivers and upland areas and implemented new riparian wetland modules for the simulation of riverine flooding and denitrification processes.
The new SWAT+ software is tested with an application to the Little River Experimental Watershed (LREW), a 334 km2 large watershed located in the Upper Suwannee River Basin in Georgia. The LREW is characterized by broad floodplains and gently sloping uplands. Elevations range from 82 to 148 m m.s.l. The hydrologic behavior of the watershed is strongly affected by the storage capability of the channel alluvium.
Stream and Session
STREAM E
SESSION E2: Beyond the Channel – Modelling Crucial Interfaces of Fluvial Processes