Hydrological Modeling in Agricultural Intensive Watershed: The Case of Upper East Fork White River, USA

Abstract

Identifying the core hydrological processes of catchments is a critical step for operative hydrological modeling. This study attempts to assess the long-term alterations in streamflow in three adjacent catchments of Upper East Fork White River, Indiana USA, by employing the SWAT hydrological model. The model simulations are spanning from 1980 up to 2015 and distributed in three configurations periods to identify monthly alterations in streamflow. For this purpose, water abstraction, land use, tillage, and agricultural field drainage practices have been incorporated in the model to provide accurate data input. The model setup also integrates spatially disaggregated sectorial water use data from surface and groundwater resources integrating the significant increases of water abstractions mainly for agricultural and public water supply purposes. The land cover of the study area is governed by rotating crops, while agricultural practices and tile drainage are crucial model parameters affecting the regional hydrological balance. Streamflow prediction is based on the SUFI-2 algorithm and the SWAT-CUP interface has been used for the monthly calibration and validation phases of the model. The evaluation of model simulations indicate a progressively sufficient hydrological model setup for all configuration periods with NSE (0.87, 0.88, and 0.88) and PBIAS (14%, −7%, and −2.8%) model evaluation values at the Seymour outlet. Surface runoff/precipitation as well as percolation/precipitation ratios have been used as indicators to identify trends to wetter conditions. Model outputs for the upstream areas, are successful predictions for streamflow assessment studies to test future implications of land cover and climate change.