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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433827
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: A coupled hydrologic-hydraulic modeling workflow for flood mitigation analysis

Author
item JEGATHEESAN, KRISHIEKA - University Of Missouri
item HOLMES, JOHN - University Of Missouri
item Hunt, Sherry
item ALOYSIUS, NOEL - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2026
Publication Date: 4/20/2026
Citation: Jegatheesan, K., Holmes, J., Hunt, S., Aloysius, N. 2026. A coupled hydrologic-hydraulic modeling workflow for flood mitigation analysis. Meeting Abstract. University of Missouri Show Me Research Week, Columbia, MO April 20-24,2026.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Floodplains are crucial for managing river flow, storing excess water during floods, and maintaining ecological connectivity. However, many flood mitigation studies rely solely on watershed hydrologic or hydraulic flood models, which limits our knowledge of the interactions between watershed runoff and floodplain inundation dynamics. Here, we propose to develop a coupled hydrologic-hydraulic modeling framework to assess flood mitigation and floodplain connectivity at the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge (SLNWR) near Mendon, Missouri. The HEC-HMS, a precipitation-runoff process model, is used to estimate discharge hydrographs from contributing watershed. These hydrographs are then used as upstream boundary conditions in the HEC-RAS model, a framework for river hydraulics and floodplains, to study inundation dynamics within the study area – the SLNWR. To support model calibration and validation, the framework incorporates field monitoring data, such as precipitation, water level and flow measurements with several sensors being installed as part of the long-term monitoring efforts. In this presentation, we will present the modeling approach, monitoring plans and how the coupled model output will be used to evaluate flood depth and inundation extent. This integrated method offers a framework for understanding flood dynamics and supports decision making for floodplain restoration and water management in managed and natural ecosystems.