Water and sediment transport modeling of a large temporary river basin in Greece

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the spatial distribution of runoff and sediment transport in a large Mediterranean watershed (Evrotas River Basin) consisting of temporary flow tributaries and high mountain areas and springs by focusing on the collection and use of a variety of data to constrain the model parameters and characterize hydrologic and geophysical processes at various scales. Both monthly and daily discharge data (2004–2011) and monthly sediment concentration data (2010–2011) from an extended monitoring network of 8 sites were used to calibrate and validate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. In addition flow desiccation maps showing wet and dry aquatic states obtained during a dry year were used to calibrate the simulation of low flows. Annual measurements of sediment accumulation in two reaches were used to further calibrate the sediment simulation. Model simulation of hydrology and sediment transport was in good agreement with field observations as indicated by a variety of statistical measures used to evaluate the goodness of fit. A water balance was constructed using a 12year long (2000‐2011) simulation. The average precipitation of the basin for this period was estimated to be 903mmyr−1. The actual evapotranspiration was 46.9% (424mmyr−1), and the total water yield was 13.4% (121mmyr−1). The remaining 33.4% (302mmyr−1) was the amount of water that was lost through the deep groundwater of Taygetos and Parnonas Mountains to areas outside the watershed and for drinking water demands (6.3%). The results suggest that the catchment has on average significant water surplus to cover drinking water and irrigation demands. However, the situation is different during the dry years, where the majority of the reaches (85% of the river network are perennial and temporary) completely dry up as a result of the limited rainfall and the substantial water abstraction for irrigation purposes. There is a large variability in the sediment yield within the catchment with the highest annual sediment yield (3.5tha−1yr−1) to be generated from the western part of the watershed. The developed methodology facilitated the simulation of hydrology and sediment transport of the catchment providing consistent results and suggesting its usefulness as a tool for temporary rivers management.