Water is the key element to support the life and preserves natural ecosystems on earth. In the history of civilization water plays an important role for the establishment of habitat and also for expansion of trade. Most of the towns and cities were developed near sources of drinking water and along rivers for transportation. Mesopotamia was situated between the major rivers Tigris and Euphrates and the ancient society of the Egyptians depended entirely upon the Nile for agriculture productivity. China was one of the first countries to control water supply through irrigation and flood control works (Needham, 1986). Apart from development of society and transformation, water is one of the controlling factors for biodiversity and the distribution
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Aquatic ecosystems, such as wetlands, streams, and lakes, are especially sensitive to changes in water quality and quantity. Although water cycle is important for survival of all the forms of life on earth, flow of water over and beneath the earth is a key component of the cycling of other biogeochemical cycles. Runoff is responsible for almost all of the transport of eroded sediment and phosphorus from land to water bodies. Both runoff and groundwater flow play significant roles in transporting nitrogen and carbon from the land to water bodies (Moses, 2012). Therefore, water resource management is important to ensure a quality water supply to the places where and when water is needed.
Rapid growth of population, expansion of industrialization, attraction of better standard of living and employment opportunities intensified the urbanization process quickly which had large impact on environment. We all know that mankind has been changing landscapes for their own needs caused a great influence …show more content…
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is found to be suitable for this purpose (Arnold et al., 1998; Arnold and Fohrer, 2005). Although this model has been widely used in regional scale, this research will also try to identify the compatibility of using SWAT model in a small scale urban watershed. Two main components of my research are ‘hydrology’ and ‘land use change’. A study area near Indiana University (IU) Golf Course has been selected to conduct the research. A new health center is going to be constructed near IU golf driving range on 75 acres adjacent to the IU Technology Park. It is important to understand how this land-use change can influence the annual and monthly surface runoff, stream flow, groundwater flow on Griffy Lake under the current climate situation. To identify the relationship between urbanization and hydrological responses, watershed-scale simulation models with integration of spatial GIS (Geographic Information System) framework, can be quite effective. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is found to be suitable for this purpose as it integrates GIS modules and hydrologic models. This model has been proven as an effective tool for hydrologic studies, including point and nonpoint‐source pollution problems for a wide range of scales and environmental conditions across the globe (Arnold et al., 1998;
Aquatic ecosystems, such as wetlands, streams, and lakes, are especially sensitive to changes in water quality and quantity. Although water cycle is important for survival of all the forms of life on earth, flow of water over and beneath the earth is a key component of the cycling of other biogeochemical cycles. Runoff is responsible for almost all of the transport of eroded sediment and phosphorus from land to water bodies. Both runoff and groundwater flow play significant roles in transporting nitrogen and carbon from the land to water bodies (Moses, 2012). Therefore, water resource management is important to ensure a quality water supply to the places where and when water is needed.
Rapid growth of population, expansion of industrialization, attraction of better standard of living and employment opportunities intensified the urbanization process quickly which had large impact on environment. We all know that mankind has been changing landscapes for their own needs caused a great influence …show more content…
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is found to be suitable for this purpose (Arnold et al., 1998; Arnold and Fohrer, 2005). Although this model has been widely used in regional scale, this research will also try to identify the compatibility of using SWAT model in a small scale urban watershed. Two main components of my research are ‘hydrology’ and ‘land use change’. A study area near Indiana University (IU) Golf Course has been selected to conduct the research. A new health center is going to be constructed near IU golf driving range on 75 acres adjacent to the IU Technology Park. It is important to understand how this land-use change can influence the annual and monthly surface runoff, stream flow, groundwater flow on Griffy Lake under the current climate situation. To identify the relationship between urbanization and hydrological responses, watershed-scale simulation models with integration of spatial GIS (Geographic Information System) framework, can be quite effective. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is found to be suitable for this purpose as it integrates GIS modules and hydrologic models. This model has been proven as an effective tool for hydrologic studies, including point and nonpoint‐source pollution problems for a wide range of scales and environmental conditions across the globe (Arnold et al., 1998;