| Title: | Sediment measurement and transport modeling: Impact of riparian and filter strip buffers |
| Authors: | Moriasi, D.N., J.L. Seiner and J.G. Arnold |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Journal: | Journal of Environmental Quality |
| Volume (Issue): | 40(3) |
| Pages: | 807-814 |
| Article ID: | |
| DOI: | 10.2134/jeq2010.0066 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic and pollutant |
| Primary Application Category: | sediment loss and transport |
| Secondary Application Category: | BMP and/or cropping system assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 342 km^2 Cobb Creek in Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Well-calibrated models are cost-effective tools to quantify
environmental benefits of conservation practices, but lack of
data for parameterization and evaluation remains a weakness to
modeling. Research was conducted in southwestern Oklahoma
within the Cobb Creek subwatershed (CCSW) to develop costeffective
methods to collect stream channel parameterization
and evaluation data for modeling in watersheds with sparse
data. Specifically, (i) simple stream channel observations
obtained by rapid geomorphic assessment (RGA) were used
to parameterize the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)
model stream channel variables before calibrating SWAT for
streamflow and sediment, and (ii) average annual reservoir
sedimentation rate, measured at the Crowder Lake using
the acoustic profiling system (APS), was used to cross-check
Crowder Lake sediment accumulation rate simulated by SWAT.
Additionally, the calibrated and cross-checked SWAT model
was used to simulate impacts of riparian forest buffer (RF) and
bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] filter strip buffer
(BFS) on sediment yield and concentration in the CCSW. The
measured average annual sedimentation rate was between 1.7
and 3.5 t ha−1 yr−1 compared with simulated sediment rate of
2.4 t ha−1 yr−1. Application of BFS across cropped fields resulted
in a 72% reduction of sediment delivery to the stream, while
the RF and the combined RF and BFS reduced the suspended
sediment concentration at the CCSW outlet by 68 and 73%,
respectively. Effective riparian practices have potential to
increase reservoir life. These results indicate promise for using
the RGA and APS methods to obtain data to improve water
quality simulations in ungauged watersheds. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | |