Integrated Catchment Management

Modelling water quantity and quality

 Research Status: Ongoing
Motueka catchment (above Woodstock) as used in SWAT

Motueka catchment (above Woodstock) as used in SWAT

Introduction

The aim of this research is to develop numerical models that describe the hydrological behaviour of the Motueka catchment and can be used to investigate management issues identified by stakeholders.

Research Approach

In the early stages of the research programme John Dymond and Robbie Andrew developed a distributed hydrological model (DHVSM) for the Motueka catchment (Dymond & Andrew, 2006). The model has been used to simulate the impacts of land cover change in the catchment.
Following a review of different modelling approaches (see report; Davie 2004) the main modelling effort has concentrated on using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) to model water quantity and quality.

Research Results

The SWAT model (Cao et al paper) and DHVSM (Dymond & Andrews paper)have both sucessfully modelled Motueka river flows and then been applied to different land use change scenarios. Initial use of SWAT for nitrogen dischrage from the catchment was discouraging (see report) however subsequent calibration of controlling parameters (particularly the rate nitrogen transfer through lateral flow) has started to produce more meaningful results.
Work is ongoing, particularly in producing simulations for IDEAS.


1994 land use within the Motueka catchment Modelled changes in annual water yield in subcatchments with different land covers (compared to present)

1994 land use within the Motueka catchment

Modelled changes in annual water yield in subcatchments with different land covers (compared to present)

Recent Publications

Year Title File Size
2012 A Summary of Outcomes and selected formal publications from the Integrated Catchment Management (ICM)research programme:2000 – 2011
pdf       1.08MB
2010 The Sherry River Story – Improving Water Quality through Whole Catchment Planning. pdf       3.71MB
2008 Modelling Impacts of Land Cover Change on Critical
Water Resources in the Motueka River Catchment,
New Zealand
pdf       291KB
2007 A distributed model of water balance in the Motueka catchment, New Zealand. pdf       712KB
2006 Multi–criteria calibration and validation of SWAT in a large mountainous catchment with high spatial variability. pdf       346KB
More publications on this topic »
All ICM Publications »

Recent Presentations

Year Title File Size
2003 Application of SWAT in a large mountainous catchment with high spatial variability.  
2001 Water Balance of the Motueka River Catchment.  
More presentations on this topic »
All ICM presentations »

Primary Contacts:


Image - Tim Davie Tim Davie  EmailSend email to tim.davie
Phone: 03 372 7084
Fax: +64 (0)3 365 3194
More details»
Institute
Environment Canterbury
Expertise
Hydrology & modelling, surface water resource management
Image - John Dymond John Dymond  EmailSend email to dymondj
Phone: 06 353 4955
Institute
Landcare Research
Expertise
land and water models, GIS, remote sensing
Image - Jagath Ekanayake Jagath Ekanayake  EmailSend email to EkanayakeJ
Phone: 03 321 9656
Institute
Landcare Research
Expertise
Landslide modelling, soil physics instrumentation, SWAT modelling
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Page last updated Monday, 17 December 2007

Related areas

IDEAS