Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #381271
Research Project: Managing Water and Sediment Movement in Agricultural Watersheds

Location: Watershed Physical Processes Research

Title: Evaluation of AnnAGNPS model for runoff simulation on watersheds from glaciated landscape of USA midwest and northeast

Author
item TAMMANNA, MARZIA - University Of Rhode Island
item PRADHANANG, SONI - University Of Rhode Island
item GOLD, ARTHUR - University Of Rhode Island
item ADDY, KELLY - University Of Rhode Island
item VIDON, PHILIPPE - State University Of New York (SUNY)
item Bingner, Ronald - Ron

Submitted to: Water
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2020
Publication Date: 12/15/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7218317
Citation: Tammanna, M., Pradhanang, S., Gold, A., Addy, K., Vidon, P., Bingner, R.L. 2021. Evaluation of AnnAGNPS model for runoff simulation on watersheds from glaciated landscape of USA midwest and northeast. Water. 12(12):3525. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123525.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123525

Interpretive Summary: Understanding the impact of climate and land use change on the hydrological system and watershed export of contaminants of glaciated watersheds is needed to develop effective long-term management plans. Study areas in Sugar Creek watershed, Indiana, Fall Creek watershed, New York and Pawcatuck River watershed, Rhode Island, USA were used to evaluate the USDA Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution watershed conservation management planning tool. Model performance during calibration and validation phases shows that the model can be successfully used to predict runoff from watersheds in the glaciated settings of the Northeast and Midwest United States. The model effectively estimated runoff volume and portrayed the seasonal pattern of runoff in all the studied watersheds. Although, some characteristics of the model associated with peak runoff events occurring during wet and dry periods could be improved by the readjustment of the evaporation rate in association with the interception of precipitation events. Water management needed by action agencies can utilize this hydrological model when applied to glaciated areas to provide the capacity to couple edge-of-field hydrologic modeling with the examination of riparian or riverine functions and behaviors.

Technical Abstract: Runoff modeling of glaciated watersheds is required to predict runoff for water supply, aquatic ecosystem management and flood prediction, and to deal with questions concerning the impact of climate and land use change on the hydrological system and watershed export of contaminants of glaciated watersheds. A widely used pollutant loading model, Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution (AnnAGNPS) was applied to simulate runoff from three watersheds in glaciated geomorphic settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the AnnAGNPS model in glaciated landscapes for the prediction of runoff volume. The study area included Sugar Creek watershed, Indiana, Fall Creek watershed, New York and Pawcatuck River watershed, Rhode Island, USA. The AnnAGNPS model was developed, calibrated and validated for runoff estimation for these watersheds. The daily and monthly calibration and validation statistics (NSE > 0.50 and RSR < 0.70, and PBIAS ± 25%) of the developed model were satisfactory for runoff simulation for all the studied watersheds. Once AnnAGNPS successfully simulated runoff, a parameter sensitivity analysis was carried out for runoff simulation in all three watersheds. The output from our hydrological models applied to glaciated areas will provide the capacity to couple edge-of-field hydrologic modeling with the examination of riparian or riverine functions and behaviors.