| Title: | Impacts of deforestation on water balance components of a watershed on the Brazilian East Coast |
| Authors: | Pereira, D.D.R., A.Q. de Almeida, M.A. Martinez and D.R.Q. Rosa |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Journal: | Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo |
| Volume (Issue): | 38 |
| Pages: | 1350-1358 |
| Article ID: | |
| DOI: | 10.1590/S0100-06832014000400030 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | land use change assessment |
| Secondary Application Category: | hydrologic assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 943 km^2 Galo Creek, located in the state of Espirito Santo in Eastern Brazil |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | The Brazilian East coast was intensely affected by deforestation, which drastically cut back the original biome. The possible impacts of this process on water resources are still unknown. The purpose of this study was an evaluation
of the impacts of deforestation on the main water balance components of the Galo creek watershed, in the State of Espírito Santo, on the East coast of Brazil. Considering the real conditions of the watershed, the SWAT model was
calibrated with data from 1997 to 2000 and validated for the period between 2001 and 2003. The calibration and validation processes were evaluated by the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient and by the statistical parameters
(determination coefficient, slope coefficient and F test) of the regression model adjusted for estimated and measured flow data. After calibration and validation of the model, new simulations were carried out for three different land use
scenarios: a scenario in compliance with the law (C1), assuming the preservation of PPAs (permanent preservation areas); an optimistic scenario (C2), which considers the watershed to be almost entirely covered by native vegetation; and a pessimistic scenario (C3), in which the watershed would be almost entirely covered by pasture. The scenarios C1, C2 and C3 represent a soil cover of native forest of 76, 97 and 0 %, respectively. The results were compared with the simulation, considering the real scenario (C0) with 54 % forest cover. The Nash- Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.65 and 0.70 for calibration and validation, respectively, indicating satisfactory results in the flow simulation. A mean reduction of 10 % of the native forest cover would cause a mean annual increase of approximately 11.5 mm in total runoff at the watershed outlet. Reforestation would ensure minimum flows in the dry period and regulate the maximum flow of the main watercourse of the watershed. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | SWAT, watershed management, hydrological modeling, Atlantic Forest. |