Modeling the Effect of Land Use Modifications on Runoff

The natural apportionment of rainfall excess to surface and subsurface flow can mean the difference between large flow rates for a short time or more manageable flow rates over a longer time. By using available soil storage, peak flood flows can be reduced without necessarily reducing the total volume of runoff. An attempt has been made to simulate this phenomenon. The land phase of the hydrologic system has been simulated by a series of interconnected, nonlinear reservoirs and the channel phase by a single linear reservoir. By manipulation of parameters, which mathematically represent physical measurements, the watershed response to the addition of conservation practices, such as terracing, may be predicted.