SWAT hydrological modelling for non-Himalayan catchment of Sone River in India

Abstract

This paper reports a study on simulation of rainfall-runoff for the Sone river catchment extending from Bansagar to Indrapuri Barrage in India using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool over a period of three years (2011-2013) to assess basin water availability. The model includes a hydrologic model coupled with a simplified flow routing model. The study area is delineated using GIS tools with implementation of SWAT model using Arc-SWAT software. The river basin is sub-divided into smaller catchments. Each catchment is further divided into several hydrological response units (HRUs), based on similarity with respect to terrain slope, land use/land cover and soil characteristics. The developed model was calibrated and validated with observed data with certain statistical parameters. Observed data and model computed data were compared and found to be quite good in agreement. It is indicative of that the model is suitable with realistic assessment of its parameters in the study area (Sone River Basin) with certain known limitations. Accurate Sone River Discharge prediction through developed model with data for sufficient time span would lead to realistic assessment of water availability of Sone River at Indrapuri Barrage. That will ease the way to resolve the persisting impasse amongst three riparian co-basin states namely Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar within Indian Territory on the issue of Sone basin water share.