Assessment of the Hydrological Responces to Land Use Changes in Wadi Ouahrane Watershed, Algeria

Abstract

Rainfall-runoff modeling plays a crucial role in determining the regular water balance. Modifications in land use and land cover (LULC) significantly impact on the hydrological response of watersheds. The study aims to analyze the effect of land use change on river runoff with the use of hydrological modeling in the Wadi Ouahrane watershed in northwestern Algeria. The study was conducted for the period from 1987 to 2017. According to the LULC change study, cultivated land and built-up areas have increased, whereas forest and grassland areas have decreased. Sensitivity evaluation has shown that the CN (curve number) is the most important factor affecting the watershed hydrology. The Nash–Sutcliffe (NSE) and \(R^{2}\) efficiency values for the Wadi Ouahrane watershed were 0.76–0.82 and 0.86–0.91 for the calibration period and 0.72–0.74 and 0.81–0.83 for the validation one, respectively. The assessment of the HEC-HMS response to the LULC change showed that the peak discharge for 2017 increased by 68% relative to the 1987 peak discharge. This research has improved the knowledge of the relationship between land use change and hydrological regimes in the Wadi Ouahrane watershed.