Section I

Development of a Hydrological Model for Kala Oya Basin Using SWAT Model

Authors:

Abstract

Streamflow estimation is an important aspect of river basin management and development. Kala Oya stream is about 145 km in length and is the third-longest river in Sri Lanka [1]. In this study, a Rainfall-Runoff (RR) model has been developed for the Kala Oya basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). SWAT is a continuous-time and spatially distributed hydrological model [2] available in the public domain. It is a water-based model developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Research Service [3]. SWAT model output was calibrated using the SWAT-CUP numerical computer program. Daily streamflow data of two river gauging stations at Kala Oya and Dambulla were used to calibrate the RR model with eight parameters. The RR model calibrated using Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) statistical index. The calibrated NSE for Kala Oya was 0.59. The calibrated parameters were validated with NSE 0.56. The simulated daily flow was compared with the past published results.

Keywords:

Kala oyaSWAT modelRainfall-runoffSwat cup
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 54 Issue: 1
  • Page/Article: 57-65
  • DOI: 10.4038/engineer.v54i1.7435
  • Published on 19 May 2021
  • Peer Reviewed