Development and Application of an Integrated Hydrological Model for Lake Watersheds

AbstractQuantitative estimation of surface and subsurface water flow to lakes is important for lake resources management. The calculation of water volume into lakes is also an essential step for estimation of pollutant loads to lakes. This paper presents a mathematical model for coupled simulation of surface and subsurface water flows for lake watersheds, with emphasis on the modelling of several important aspects including groundwater level-soil water storage-surface runoff relation, river-groundwater interactions and lake-watershed hydrological linkage, which are all fundamental for an integrated simulation of hydrological processes for lake watersheds. Field case studies were also given as examples to test the model's suitability and capability. The model is grid-based spatially distributed to facilitate the discretisation of the high heterogeneity of land use types and soil properties. The model can be used as a useful tool to quantify components of hydrological processes for detailed watershed water balance analysis, and to assess impacts of watershed management strategies on the security of lake water resourc