Integrated Watershed Management

Integrated Watershed Management

Application of digital filtering methods for assessing base flow and groundwater recharge in the Kashkan Watershed

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Haghizadeh
Leila Ghasemi
Hafez Mirzapour
Department of Range and Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
10.22034/iwm.2025.2042760.1178
Abstract
Extended Abstract
 Introduction: Natural resource management is considered the foundation of sustainable development. Therefore, in a country like Iran, located in the water-stressed and tense region of the Middle East, water resource management is of paramount importance. Knowledge of temporal changes in baseflow is crucial for effective water resources management. Identifying the most suitable and optimal method for hydrograph separation and baseflow estimation enables the accurate calculation of the baseflow index.
 Materials and methods: In this study, nine recession filter algorithms were used to estimate baseflow. These algorithms include Local Minimum, Sliding Interval, Fixed Interval, Eckhardt, Chapman, Chapman & Maxwell, Lyne & Hollick, Furey & Gupta, and Boughton. Using these algorithms, daily baseflow was calculated for the Kashkan watershed using daily discharge and rainfall data from 1999 to 2020. The Kakareza, Sarab Seid Ali, Cham Anjir, Afrineh, and Pol-e-Dokhtar stations were investigated to separate baseflow in the Kashkan watershed. The performance of the methods for separating baseflow in the hydrograph of the Kashkan watershed was assessed using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficient and the R² coefficient to select the most suitable filtering method.
 Results: Among the recession algorithms examined, the Furey & Gupta method estimated the lowest baseflow for all five sub-watersheds. In the Afrineh sub-watershed, the Lyne and Hollick, Fixed Interval, and Sliding Interval methods estimated baseflow as 36.41, 30.11, and 29.7 m3/s, respectively. These methods attributed 85%, 82%, and 81% of the total flow to groundwater contributions. In the Cham Anjir sub-watershed, the highest annual average baseflow values were obtained using the Lyne & Hollick, and Local Minimum methods, with values of 7.22, and 6.24 m3/s, respectively. The variation in mean baseflow among different methods in the Cham Anjir sub-watershed ranged from 17% to 94%. For the Kakareza sub-watershed, the highest annual average baseflow values were observed using the Lyne & Hollick, and Sliding Interval methods, with values of 9.70, and 9.72 m3/s, respectively. The variation in mean baseflow among different methods in the Kakareza sub-watershed ranged from 17% to 95%. Similarly, in  the Pol-e-Dokhtar sub-watershed, the highest values were obtained using the Lyne & Hollick, Fixed Interval, and Sliding Interval methods, with values of 36.10, 34.40, and 34.40 m3/s, respectively, and variations ranging from 17% to 99%. In the Sarab Seid Ali sub-watershed, the Lyne & Hollick, Fixed Interval, and Sliding Interval methods yielded the highest annual average baseflow values of 5.97, 5.95, and 5.94 m³/s, respectively, with variations ranging from 17% to 92%. Based on the findings and evaluation criteria, the Local Minimum, Lyne & Hollick, Sliding Interval, and Fixed Interval methods were identified as suitable for baseflow separation in the studied sub-watersheds.
 Discussion: Baseflow in the Kashkan watershed of Lorestan constitutes a significant portion of the flow. In the majority of the methods examined in this study, it was also shown that baseflow accounts for more than 50% of the streamflow throughout the year. In all studied sub-watersheds, the Lyne and Holick algorithm showed suitable values for the NSE coefficient and R². Therefore, this algorithm can be considered an appropriate method for estimating baseflow in the Kashkan watershed. Considering the hydrological characteristics of the watershed, this method can better simulate the natural fluctuations of baseflow.
Conclusion: The results of this study can inform baseflow contribution estimates and help in selecting appropriate methods for flow separation in the hydrological modeling of rivers with varying discharge ranges in the Kashkan watershed. The present research focused on differentiating water sources in the Kashkan watershed using digital filtering methods. Future studies are recommended to explore other approaches, such as chemical methods and tracers, for water source differentiation in the Kashkan watershed, and to compare the accuracy of these methods with digital filtering techniques.
Keywords
Baseflow separation
Hydrograph
Kashkan
Recursive Digital Filters
Groundwater Recharge

Subjects

Aboelnour, M. A., Engel, B. A., Frisbee, M. D., Gitau, M. W., & Flanagan, D. C. (2021). Impacts of watershed physical properties and land use on baseflow at regional scales. J. Hydrol.: Reg. Stud. 35, 100810.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100810
Azarinvand, F., Tavakoli, M., & Karimi, H. (2022). Efficiency assessment of baseflow separation methods in Gol-Gol Catchment, Ilam. Environment and Water Engineering. 8(2), 379-394. https://doi.org/10.22034/jewe.2021.297503.1602  (In Persian)
Biagi, K. M., Ross, C. A., Oswald, C. J., Sorichetti, R. J., Thomas, J. L., & Wellen, C. C. (2022). Novel predictors related to hysteresis and baseflow improve predictions of watershed nutrient loads: an example from ontario’s lower great lakes basin. Sci. Total Environ. 826, 154023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154023
Boughton, W. C. (1993). A hydrograph-based model for estimating water yield of ungauged catchments. Institute of Engineers Australia National Conference. Publ. 93/14, pp. 317-324.
Chapman, T. (1991) - Comment on evaluation of automated techniques for base flow and recession analyses, by RJ Nathan and TA McMahon. Water Resources Research, 27(7), pp. 1783-1784. https://doi.org/10.1029/91WR01007
Chapman, T. G., & Maxwell, A. I. (1996) - Baseflow separation - comparison of numerical methods with tracer experiments, in Hydrol. and Water Resour. Symp., Institution of Engineers Australia, Hobart. pp. 539-545.
Chen, H., Huang, S., Xu, Y. P., Teegavarapu, R. S., Guo, Y., Nie, H., & Xie, H. (2024). Using baseflow ensembles for hydrologic hysteresis characterization in humid basins of Southeastern China. Water Resources Research, 60(4), e2023WR036195. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023wr036195
Cheng, S.Y., Tong, X., &Illman, W.A. (2022). Evaluation of baseflow separation methods with real and synthetic streamflow data from a watershed. J. Hydrol, 613, 128279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128279
Cronshey, R. (1986). Urban hydrology for small watersheds. Technical Release 55, United States Department of Agriculture.
Danielescu, S., MacQuarrie, K. T. B., & Popa, A. (2018). SEPHYDRO: A customizable online tool for hydrograph separation. Groundwater, 56, 589-593. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12792
Dolatabadi, N., Faridhosseini, A., Davari, K., & Mosaedi, A. (2012). Baseflow estimation using recursive digital filter nethods and BFI_0.3 software (Case Study of Part of Maharlu-Bakhtegan Basin), The Third National Conference on Comprehensive Water Resources Management.
Duan, H., Li, L., Kong, Z., & Ye, X. (2024). Combining the digital filtering method with the SWAT model to simulate spatiotemporal variations of baseflow in a mountainous river basin. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 56, 101972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101972
Eckhardt, K. (2005) How to construct recursive digital filters for baseflow separation. Hydrol. Process, 19, 507–515. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5675
Eckhardt, K. (2023). How physically based is hydrograph separation by recursive digital filtering? Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 27(2), 495-499. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-495-2023
Furey, P. R., & Gupta, V. K. (2001). A physically based filter for separating base flow from streamflow time series. Water Resource Research, 37 (11), 2709–2722. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR00024
  Gharechaei, H., Moghaddamnia, A., Malekian, A., & Ahmadi, A. (2015). Response of streamflow to climate variability and human activity in‏ ‏Kashkan river basin. Watershed Engineering and Management, 7(3), 255-264. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijwmse.2015.101632
He, S.J., Yu, K., Tang, Z.X., Yan, Y., & Zhang, F. F. (2022). Impacts of parameter uncertainty on baseflow separation by a two-parameter recursive digital filter. Hydrol. Process, 36 (3), e14512. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14512
Kazemi, R., Porhemmat, J., & Ghermezcheshmeh, B. (2022). Investigation of the hydrological response to meteorological drought in kashkan sub-catchments. Environment and Water Engineering, 8(3), 682-697. https://doi.org/10.22034/jewe.2022.317026.1683
Kazemi, R., & Porhemmat, J. (2020). Calibration of recursive digital filters to separate the base flow, case study: Karkheh Basin. Watershed Engineering and Management, 12(1), 30-43. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijwmse.2018.122117.1490 (In Persian)
Kaviani, M., Hematifard, H & kardan moghaddam, H. (2022). The impact of conflict of interests of activists on the emergence of hydro-political challenges (case study: influencers and stakeholders of Gaushmar dam in Lorestan province). Political Spatial Plannin, 4 (4), 303-320. (In Persian)
Khourshid Doust, A. M., Rezaei Banafsheh, M., Mir Hashemi, H., & Kakolvand, Y. (2016). studying the trend of changes in precipitation - discharge the karkhe rive sub-basin using non-parametric methods, case study: kashkan basin. Irrigation Sciences and Engineering, 38(4), 177-188. https://doi.org/10.22055/jise.2016.11804
Latuamury, B., Osok, R. M., Puturuhu, F., & Imlabla, W. N. (2022). Baseflow separation using graphic method of recursive digital filter on wae batu gajah watershed, ambon city, maluku. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 989, 012028. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/989/1/012028
Lott, D. A., & Stewart, M. T. (2013). A power function method for estimating base flow. Ground Water, 51 (3), 442–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2012.00980
Lyne, V., & Hollick, M. (1979). Stochastic time-variable rainfall-runoff modeling. hydrology and water resources symposium. Institution of Engineers, Australia, Perth, pp. 89–92.
Mehdinasab, M. (2020). Survey of1 april flood in kashkan catchment in lorestan province and presenting solutions.  Environment and Interdisciplinary Development, 67, 17-30. https://doi.org/10.22034/envj.2020.181143
Mehri, S., Mostafazadeh, R., Esmali-Ouri, A., & Ghorbani, A. (2019). Graphical and recursive digital filter techniques in the separation of base flow, A comparison in Ardabil Province rivers. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation, 26(4), pp.95-113. https://doi.org/10.22069/JWSC.2019.10737.2514 (In Persian)
Mohammadi, S., & Kashefipour, M. (2011). Numerical modeling of flow using an improved dynamic roughness coefficient (Case study: Karun River). Irrigation and Water Engineering, 2(1), 99-110. (In Persian)
Motovilov, Y.G., Gottschalk, L., Engeland, K., & Rohde, A. (1999). Validation of a distributed hydrological model against spatial observations. Agriculture and Forest Meteorology, 98-99, 257-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1923(99)00102-1
Murray, J., Ayers, J., & Brookfield, A. (2023). The impact of climate change on monthly baseflow trends across Canada. Journal of Hydrology, 618, 129254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129254
Nathan, R. J& McMahon, T. A. (1990). Evaluation of automated techniques for base flow and recession analyses. Water Resour. Res, 26 (7), 1465–1473. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i007p01465
Negaresh, H., tavousi, T., & mehdi nasab, M. (2012). Modeling production runoff in the of basin river kashkan by statistical models. Journal of Urban Ecology Researches, 3(6), 81-92. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.25383930.1391.3.6.6.4  (In Persian)
Nejadhashemi, A. P., Shirmohammadi, A., Sheridan, J. M., Montas, H.J., & Mankin, K. R. (2009). Case study: evaluation of streamflow partitioning methods. J. Irrig. Drain. Eng, 135 (6), 791–801. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000093
Pettyjohn W.A., & Henning R. (1979). Preliminary estimate of ground-water recharge rates, related streamflow and water quality in Ohio: Ohio State University Water Resources Center Project Completion Report Number, 552, p. 323.
Riazi, M., Khosravi, Kh., Riahi Samani, M., Han, Sh., Eslamian, S., (2024). Assessing groundwater drought vulnerability through baseflow separation and index-based analysis under climate change projections. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 25, 101179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101179
Schaefli, B., & Gupta, H. V. (2007). Do Nash values have value? Hydrological Processes, 21(15), 2075-2080. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6825
Shao, G., Zhang, D., Guan, Y., Sadat, M. A., & Huang, F. (2021). Application of different separation methods to investigate the baseflow characteristics of a semi-arid sandy area, Northwestern China. Water, 12(2), 2, 434. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020434
Solgi A, Zarei H, & Marofi S. (2024). Using different methods baseflow separation of karst springs based on isotope content (case study: Kahman Karst Spring). jgs; 24‌(72), 15 .https://doi.org/10.52547/jgs.24.72.269 (In Persian)
Stadnyk, T. A., Gibson, J. J., & Longstaffe, F.J. (2015). Basin-scale assessment of operational base flow separation methods. J. Hydrol. Eng, 20 (5). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001089
Stewart, M., Cimino, J., & Ross, M. (2007). Calibration of base flow separation methods with streamflow conductivity. Ground Water, 45 (1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00263.x
Szilagyi, J. (2004). Heuristic continuous base flow separation. J. Hydrol. Eng, 9 (4), 311–318. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0699(2004)9:4(311)
Waterman, B. R., Alcantar, G., Thomas, S. G., & Kirk, M. F. (2022). Spatiotemporal variation in runoff and baseflow in watersheds located across a regional precipitation gradient. J. Hydrol.: Reg. Stud, 41, 101071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101071
Xie, H., Hu, H., Xie, D., Xu, B., Chen, Y., Zhou, Z., Zhang, F., & Nie, H. (2024). Spatial and temporal assessment of baseflow based on monthly water balance modeling and baseflow separation. Water, 16(10), 1437. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16101437
Zare Bidaki, R., Gharahi, N., & Mahdianfard, M. (2019). Comparison of separation methods for baseflow from direct runoff in Doroud Basin, Lorestan, Iran. Environment and Water Engineering, 5(3), pp.200-212. https://doi.org/10.22034/jewe.2019.187507.1321 (In Persian)
Zarei, M., Boroughani, M., & Alavinia, S. H. (2020). Estimating base-flow to assess environmental flow in the rivers of arid and semi-arid regions (Case study: Shamkan river, Sabzevar). Water Resources Engineering, 13(44), 37-51. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.20086377.1399.13.44.4.5 (In Persian)
Zheng, M. (2015). Estimation of baseflow using flow-sediment relationships in the chinese loess plateau. Catena 125, 129–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. catena.2014.10.02

  • Receive Date 06 October 2024
  • Revise Date 27 December 2024
  • Accept Date 17 January 2025