Improving hydrologic model performance by using the UNET model: A case study for the Illinois River Basin

Yanqing Lian, Hua Xie, Misganaw Demissie, H. Vernon Knapp

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) system, the Illinois State Water Survey developed a Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the Illinois River basin. The SWAT model was calibrated and verified using observed flows at Marseilles, Kingston Mines, and Valley City along the Illinois River. Over the 1993-2000 simulation period, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies for daily, monthly, and annual flows exceeded 0.7 at the three gaging stations, except daily flows at Kingston Mines. However, comparisons between the simulated and observed daily flows indicated that simulated and observed peak flows deviated in magnitude and timing. The SWAT model uses Muskingum and variable storage-flow routing schemes, which are less capable of routing flows in the complex Illinois River that has locks and dams, backwater lakes, and gentle hydraulic gradients with backwater effects from the Mississippi River. The goal of this study was to improve the hydrologic modeling accuracy for daily flow routing on the Illinois River. A one-dimensional unsteady state hydraulic model (UNET) developed for the Illinois River was coupled with the calibrated SWAT model. This paper compares modeling accuracies of the coupled SWAT-UNET models and SWAT model results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationExamining the Confluence of Environmental and Water Concerns - Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2006
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
EventWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2006: Examining the Confluence of Environmental and Water Concerns - Omaha, NE, United States
Duration: May 21 2006May 25 2006

Publication series

NameExamining the Confluence of Environmental and Water Concerns - Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2006

Other

OtherWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2006: Examining the Confluence of Environmental and Water Concerns
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOmaha, NE
Period5/21/065/25/06

Keywords

  • Hydrologic models
  • Illinois
  • River basins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science

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