National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR), Heidelberg University
Published February 15, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool for six watersheds of Lake Erie: Model parameterization and calibration

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Grace College
  • 2. University of Michigan
  • 3. University of Wisconsin — Green Bay
  • 4. Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change
  • 5. National Center for Water Quality Research

Description

ABSTRACT

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a physically-based watershed-scale model, holds promise as a
means to predict tributary sediment and nutrient loads to the Laurentian Great Lakes. In the present study,
model performance is compared across six watersheds draining into Lake Erie to determine the applicability
of SWAT to watersheds of differing characteristics. After initial model parameterization, the Huron, Raisin,
Maumee, Sandusky, Cuyahoga, and Grand SWAT models were calibrated (1998–2001) and confirmed, or
validated (2002–2005), individually for stream water discharge, sediment loads, and nutrient loads (total P,
soluble reactive P, total N, and nitrate) based on available datasets. SWAT effectively predicted hydrology and
sediments across a range of watershed characteristics. SWAT estimation of nutrient loads was weaker
although still satisfactory at least two-thirds of the time across all nutrient parameters and watersheds. SWAT
model performance was most satisfactory in agricultural and forested watersheds, and was less so in
urbanized settings. Model performance was influenced by the availability of observational data with high
sampling frequency and long duration for calibration and confirmation evaluation. In some instances, it
appeared that parameter adjustments that improved calibration of hydrology negatively affected subsequent
sediment and nutrient calibration, suggesting trade-offs in calibrating for hydrologic vs. water quality model
performance. Despite these considerations, SWAT accurately predicted average stream discharge, sediment
loads, and nutrient loads for the Raisin, Maumee, Sandusky, and Grand watersheds such that future use of
these SWAT models for various scenario testing is reasonable and warranted.

Notes

We are grateful to the following people for their insight related to this work: Steve Davis, Tim Hunter, Les Ober, Jim Selegean, Michael Winchell, and Tom VanWagner. Comments by reviewers on an earlier draft substantially improved the manuscript. This is publication 10-003 of the EcoFore Lake Erie project, funded by the NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research under award NA07OAR4320006. This work was performed under the authority of Section 516(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 through additional funding by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

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