Modeling the sediment yield and the impact of vegetated filters using an event-based soil erosion model-a case study of a small Canadian watershed

Abstract

This paper presents the first application of the event-based MHYDAS-Erosion model to a small agricultural watershed under temperate climate conditions (Quebec, Canada). Simulation results based on observed and synthetic rainfall events revealed a bimodal behavior of sediment yield. During high-intensity rainfall events, most of the sediments reaching the watershed outlet originate from cropland. Meanwhile, during low-intensity events, most of the sediments come from the drainage network. Furthermore, simulation results show that implementation of 5-m and 20-m wide vegetated filters throughout the watershed or at the edge of the most problematic fields (4% of the total fields) could reduce soil loss by 52% and 31%, respectively. The modeling framework could be used for the design and location of beneficial management practices such as grass strips and riparian zones.