Abstract
The various water resources project planning and implementation need the knowledge of factors influencing watershed hydrology. Therefore, this study analyzed Hangar watershed hydrological responses to land use/land cover change (LULCC) from 1987 to 2017. In addition to the LULC data, the input data used for the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model simulation were the DEM data, soil data, and climatic data. The model calibrated and validated using measured streamflow data of 13 years (1990-2002) and nine years (2003-2011), respectively. The result after simulation indicated that the annual total water yield of the watershed decreased. The annual simulated stream flow through the study period is increased for wet and short rainy season whereas, decreased for dry season. An increase of wet season flow may result in flooding, and the reduction of dry season flow may affect water scheme practice. Therefore, this study enables the concerned body to curve the changes in LULC towards increasing vegetation cover so that, surface runoff that contributes to wet season flow will be reduced and infiltration that supply groundwater from which dry season/base flow contributed will be increased.
Highlights
Land use/land cover change affects the different hydrological components like; interception, infiltration, and evapotranspiration, thereby influencing soil moisture content, runoff generation, and streamflow regimes [1, 2]
Since the study watershed located in an agricultural area, the change in land use and land cover continued unless the factors facilitating these changes identified and measures need to take recommended
The hydrological responses of the Hangar watershed to the changes in land use/land cover evaluated by using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model
Summary
Land use/land cover change affects the different hydrological components like; interception, infiltration, and evapotranspiration, thereby influencing soil moisture content, runoff generation (both process and volume), and streamflow regimes [1, 2]. Food security, and industrial developments are dependent on adequate supplies of suitable water; water resources affected by many parameters [8] Both conversion and modifications of land use and land cover have critical environmental consequences through their impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, and microclimate, and contribute to watershed degradation [4]. Both climate and land use and land cover change have a great influence on the hydrological response of a watershed [1]. The hydrological responses of the Hangar watershed to the changes in land use/land cover evaluated by using the SWAT model
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
