Abstract
This study aims to investigate and quantify the performance of Green Infrastructure (GI) to reduce potential flooding in Texas. A sub-hourly 15-min time step SWAT model- to increase the accuracy of simulations- was applied to estimate flows and evaluate flooding in the Blunn Creek Watershed. Bioretention and permeable pavement were represented in the SWAT model by modifying the routine of a current sedimentation filtration design. The evaluation of flooding was based on a percentage of flows exceeding the bank-full level. Results showed that combining bioretention and the permeable pavement had the greatest reductions in peak discharges for all recurrence intervals (2-year, 10-year, 25-year and 100-year). Permeable pavement had the least percentage of reductions for all recurrence intervals. All GI practices had 100% reduction in the percentage of exceedance for bankfull flows for the 2-year recurrence intervals. The same trend continued to hold and combining bioretention and permeable pavement resulted in the greatest potential reductions in the percentage of exceedance of bankfull flows.
Highlights
Urbanization contributes to modifying hydrological processes when vegetation cover and soil are cleared from the land surface [1]
A Sub-hourly time step model was developed through Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) 2012 and used to evaluate potential flooding for different recurrence intervals (2-year, 10-year, 25-year, and 100-year) for each sub-basin in the Blunn Creek Watershed
A sub-hourly 15-min time step SWAT model to increase the accuracy of simulations was applied to estimate flows and evaluate flooding in the Blunn Creek Watershed
Summary
Urbanization contributes to modifying hydrological processes when vegetation cover and soil are cleared from the land surface [1]. The expansion of urban areas results in decreasing infiltration of precipitation, increasing runoff, higher peak discharge, volume, and frequency of floods increase in nearby streams. The severity and peak discharge of a flood are influenced by the intensity and duration of a storm, hydrological conditions preceding the storm, vegetation, topography, and geology of stream basins [2]. Bracmort et al [11] studied the effectiveness of GI practices in the long run with respect to enhancing water quality. They ran several models using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to determine the long-term (20 years) impact of GIs on water quality for two watersheds. GIs in their current condition reduced sediment yield by 7% to 10% and phosphorus yield by 7% to 17%
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