ARS | Publication request: Travel time analysis for a subsurface drained sub-watershed in Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed, Ohio

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 5, 2010
Publication Date: June 20, 2010
Citation: Shedekar, Y., Brown, L., Fausey, N.R., King, K.W. 2010. Travel time analysis for a subsurface drained sub-watershed in Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed, Ohio [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting.

Technical Abstract: Runoff travel time, which is a function of watershed and storm characteristics, is an important parameter affecting the prediction accuracy of hydrologic models. Although, time of concentration (tc) is a most widely used time parameter, it has multiple conceptual and computational definitions. Most of the methods for estimating tc ignore watershed and channel storage, which is important, especially in watersheds dominated by subsurface drainage. The time that water takes to travel within the subsurface drainage network in each field before reaching the outlet, main, or channel is another important factor that affects the time distribution of the runoff hydrograph at the watershed outlet. In such watersheds, it is important to evaluate and compare multiple definitions of tc and quantify the associated uncertainty. An experimental study has been undertaken to assess the travel time of water in a subsurface drainage network at field scale and at the sub-watershed scale in the Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed in Ohio. Results of this study will be presented during the conference. These results will aid an on-going study in the same watershed under which tools are being developed to integrate field scale models (DRAINMOD) with SWAT in order to facilitate better assessment of conservation benefits at the watershed scale.