Application of alternative hydrograph separation models to detect changes in flow paths in a watershed undergoing urban development

    Authors

    P. Gremillion; A. Gonyeau;M. Wanielista

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Hydrol. Process.

    Keywords

    oxygen stable isotopes; isotope hydrology; hydrograph separation; hydrologic mass balance; STORM-RUNOFF GENERATION; STREAMFLOW GENERATION; FORESTED CATCHMENT; SOIL-WATER; BASIN; SNOWMELT; RAINFALL; GROUNDWATER; CALIFORNIA; OXYGEN-18; Water Resources

    Abstract

    Runoff characteristics in a low-gradient central-Florida watershed were analysed using environmental delta(18)O and a series of conservative-tracer mass-balance models applied to a storm event (109 mm over approximately 30 h) monitored in May and June 1993 on the Econlockhatchee River, Florida. The assumption of steady-state conditions implicit in the widely used two-component mixing model was tested by applying steady-state and non-steady-state models for a subcatchment (215 km(2)) of the river. Both models indicated that about 76% of the resulting river flow was composed of pre-storm water. A third mass-balance model (steady-state) was developed to separate pre-storm from storm-event runoff over a discrete reach of the river, which had a contributing area of 135 km(2). This model indicated that approximately 47% of the water entering the reach could be attributed to pre-storm water. The greater proportion of event water entering the reach was attributed to suburban development in the watershed and indicates that urbanization in watersheds not only affects the timing, peak and total runoff, but also may change flow-paths for runoff, and may significantly affect down-stream water quality. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

    Journal Title

    Hydrological Processes

    Volume

    14

    Issue/Number

    8

    Publication Date

    1-1-2000

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1485

    Last Page

    1501

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000087550400011

    ISSN

    0885-6087

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