The Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER): A water-budget modeling approach for managing water-supply resources in non-karst areas of Kentucky (phase I) — Data processing and model structure documentstion
Scientific Investigations Report
2009-5248
Prepared in cooperation with the Kentucky Division of Water
By: Tanja N. Williamson, Kenneth R. Odom, Jeremy K. Newson, Aimee C. Downs, Hugh L. Nelson, Peter J. Cinotto, and Mark A. Ayers
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Abstract
The Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER) was developed in cooperation with the Kentucky Division of Water to provide a consistent and defensible method of estimating streamflow and water availability in ungaged basins. WATER is process oriented; it is based on the TOPMODEL code and incorporates historical water-use data together with physiographic data that quantitatively describe topography and soil-water storage. The result is a user-friendly decision tool that can estimate water availability in non-karst areas of Kentucky without additional data or processing. The model runs on a daily time step, and critical source data include a historical record of daily temperature and precipitation, digital elevation models (DEMs), the Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), and historical records of water discharges and withdrawals. The model was calibrated and statistically evaluated for 12 basins by comparing the estimated discharge to that observed at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations. When statistically evaluated over a 2,119-day time period, the discharge estimates showed a bias of -0.29 to 0.42, a root mean square error of 1.66 to 5.06, a correlation of 0.54 to 0.85, and a Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.26 to 0.72. The parameter and input modifications that most significantly improved the accuracy and precision of streamflow-discharge estimates were the addition of Next Generation radar (NEXRAD) precipitation data, a rooting depth of 30 centimeters, and a TOPMODEL scaling parameter (m) derived directly from SSURGO data that was multiplied by an adjustment factor of 0.10. No site-specific optimization was used.
Suggested Citation
Williamson, T., Odom, K.R., Newson, J.K., Downs, A.C., Nelson, H.L., Cinotto, P.J., and Ayers, M.A., 2009, The Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER): A water-budget modeling approach for managing water-supply resources in non-karst areas of Kentucky (phase I) — Data processing and model structure documentstion: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5248, vi, 34 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20095248.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | The Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER): A water-budget modeling approach for managing water-supply resources in non-karst areas of Kentucky (phase I) — Data processing and model structure documentstion |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2009-5248 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20095248 |
| Year Published | 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | Kentucky Water Science Center |
| Description | vi, 34 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |