Abstract
Runoff and sediment yield modeling is important in the watershed to alleviate soil erosion and reservoir sedimentation. This paper presents runoff and sediment yield modeling of Kesem dam watershed, which has a drainage area of 2660 km2. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT, version 2009) integrated with ArcGIS software (version 9.3) was used to simulate the stream flow and sediment concentration of Kesem dam watershed situated in Awash River basin for the period from 1994 to 2010. The model was calibrated manually by adjusting sensitive parameters using observed data from 2001 to 2006, and validation was done using observed data from 2007 to 2010. The model performance was checked by statistical model performance evaluators such as the coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency and Percent bias and it shows that the model has a high potential in the estimation of runoff and sediment yield. The test of the model SWAT by simulating the streamflow and sediment concentration was satisfactory. From the generated spatial distribution of runoff and Sediment yield of the Kesem dam watershed, subbasins 12 and 13 were high runoff and sediment yielding sub-basins among the 41 sub-basins. The outputs of this study will be used by water resource managers and decision makers to conserve soil and water in the sub-watershed levels.
Highlights
Runoff and sediment yield modeling is important in the watershed [1,2,3]
Sensitivity analysis was done and it was found that the Available water capacity (Sol_Awc) was the most sensitive parameter, followed by the base flow Soil depth (Sol_Z) and Plant evaporation compensation factor (Epco) reported as a medium sensitive parameter in the stream flow parameters (Table 3) and parameters such as USLE_P support practice factor and USLE_C cover factor were the most sensitive parameters in the sediment yields (Table 5) in the Kesem dam watershed
Available water capacity Soil depth Plant evaporation compensation factor Maximum potential leaf area index soil conductivity Average slope steepness (m/m) Soil evaporation compensation factor Soil Albedo Threshold depth of water required for return flow to occur(mm) Initial SCS CN II value (%) Alpha base flow recession constant Maximum canopy index
Summary
Runoff and sediment yield modeling is important in the watershed [1,2,3]. Modeling the hydrological process such as runoff and sediment yield of the watershed is useful to manage the natural resources. This can be helped for sustainable soil and water management, which are key resources of the community living in the watershed. Part of the precipitation is intercepted [8] or infiltrates into the ground, and the remainder flows over the land surface as runoff run to the nearest stream or river. Runoff has different characteristics [9] and affected by natural and man-made activities. Erosion rates are frequently measured in small fractional-hectare plots and the erosion agent [11, 12] and affected by different factors, for example, rainfall intensity [13, 14]; these factors have a dynamic role in the erosional behavior of soil [15, 16]
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