Evaluating the effects of simulated land use changes on peak discharge of a catchment adjoining a road

• The consequences of heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events are strongly influenced by land use within watersheds. The tested catchment consists of arable land, forest, living areas, and a creek which crosses a main road at the bottom of the catchment. The theoretical hydrological responses to different land use changes and four different extreme events were quantified by model simulations using MIKE-SHE. Land use composition and configuration was found to affect discharge; clear-cutting on 30% of the catchment area produced a 60% increase in peak discharge and a 10% increase in total runoff during a 50-year summer event. There were only small effects on peak discharge during smaller storms. Reforestation of 60% of basin area was the most effective measure to reduce peak flow, mainly for smaller (2-, 5- and 10-year) storms. Grassed waterways reduced water velocity in the stream and resulted in a 28% reduction in peak flow at the catchment outlet with the same 50-year event. A smaller degree of reforestation (30%) of the basin area was the most efficient measure to decrease total runoff. Hence different measures may be the most efficient for peak discharges and total runoff from the area. The specific effect of land use measures on catchment discharge depends on their spatial distribution and on the size and time of storm events.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Infrastrukturteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Infrastructure Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

extreme events

road infrastructure

hydrological model

runoff

land use change

road transportation system

adaptation

operation and maintenance

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)