Development of a SWAT model in the Yarra River catchment

Abstract

The degradation of river water quality in Victorian agricultural catchments is of concern. Physics-based models are useful analysis tools to understand diffuse pollution and find solutions through best management practices. However, because of high data requirements and processing, use of these models is limited in many data-poor catchments; for example the Australian catchments where water quality and land use management data are very sparse. Recently, with the advent of computationally efficient computers and GIS software, physics-based models are increasingly being called upon in data-poor regions. SWAT is a promising model for long-term continuous simulations in predominantly agricultural catchments. Limited application of SWAT has been found in Australia for modeling hydrology only. Adoption of SWAT as a tool for predicting land use change impacts on water quality in the Yarra River catchment, Victoria (Australia) is currently being considered. The objective of this paper is to evaluate hydrological behaviour of SWAT model in the agricultural part of the Yarra River catchment for 1990-2008 periods.

Impacts of Climate Alteration on the Hydrology of the Yarra River Catchment, Australia Using GCMs and SWAT Model

“…Streamflow calibration (1990Streamflow calibration ( -2002 and validation(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)) statistics[30].…”