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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332539
Title: Application of large-scale, multi-resolution watershed modeling framework using the Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS)

Author
item YEN, HAW - Texas Agrilife Research
item DAGGUPATI, PRASAD - Texas A&M University
item White, Michael
item SRINIVASAN, RAGHAVAN - Texas A&M University
item GOSSEL, ARNDT - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item WELLS, DAVID - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
item Arnold, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Water
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2016
Publication Date: 4/21/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5454536
Citation: Yen, H., Daggupati, P., White, M.J., Srinivasan, R., Gossel, A., Wells, D., Arnold, J.G. 2016. Application of large-scale, multi-resolution watershed modeling framework using the Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS). Water. 8(164):1-23.

Interpretive Summary: The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a popular tool to address water resource problems. Unfortunately, like all complex models it can be difficult to use. Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) is a framework of interfaces, data, and the SWAT model to aid in decision support. With the aid of HAWQS, users can generate a ready to use SWAT model within a few minutes by only providing the targeted watershed. In the case study, HAWQS was implemented on the Illinois River Basin, USA, with graphical demonstrations and results. The HAWQS framework allows models to more easily provide science based feedback during conservation planning and policy development.

Technical Abstract: In recent years, large-scale watershed modeling has been implemented broadly in the field of water resources planning and management. Complex hydrological, sediment, and nutrient processes can be simulated by sophisticated watershed simulation models for important issues such as water resources allocation, sediment transport, and pollution control. Among commonly adopted models, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been demonstrated to provide superior performance with a large amount of referencing databases. However, it is cumbersome to perform tedious initialization steps such as preparing inputs and developing a model with each changing targeted study area. In this study, the Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) is introduced to serve as a national-scale Decision Support System (DSS) to conduct challenging watershed modeling tasks. HAWQS is a web-based DSS developed and maintained by Texas A & M University, and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Three different spatial resolutions of Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC8, HUC10, and HUC12) and three temporal scales (time steps in daily/monthly/annual) are available as alternatives for general users. In addition, users can specify preferred values of model parameters instead of using the pre-defined sets. With the aid of HAWQS, users can generate a preliminarily calibrated SWAT project within a few minutes by only providing the ending HUC number of the targeted watershed and the simulation period. In the case study, HAWQS was implemented on the Illinois River Basin, USA, with graphical demonstrations and associated analytical results. Scientists and/or decision-makers can take advantage of the HAWQS framework while conducting relevant topics or policies in the future.