Conservation Practices

Tools for building a hydrologic foundation

Capabilities (see below)

Limitations

Required skills

Case studies and references

Empirical assessment

StreamStats for gaged sites

Selected statistics at
gaged sites for their
period of record

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Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration

A

Gaged sites.

Basic hydrology; ability to operate GUI-based computer program; training available through The Nature Conservancy

Hydro-ecological Integrity Assessment Process

A

Gaged sites.

Basic hydrology; ability to operate GUI-based computer program

Statistical models

Index station

G

Analysis is not integrated in a software package; ungaged sites must be associated with an index station; streamflow characteristics must be
specified

Intermediate hydrology and statistics; ability to assemble and analyze streamflow data from multiple sites.

Regional regression

A,G

Analysis is not integrated in a software package; streamflow characteristics must be specified; applies to unimpaired streamflow

Intermediate hydrology, GIS, and statistics; ability to assemble streamflow data from multiple sites and implement analysis using a general statistical program.

QPPQ

G

Analysis is not integrated in a software package, ungaged sites must be associated with an index station; uncertainty of streamflow statistics based on estimated daily streamflow

Intermediate hydrology and statistics; ability to assemble streamflow data from multiple sites and implement analysis using a general statistical program.

Water balance/budgets

Water budget

Typically coarse spatial and temporal resolution

Intermediate hydrology

Thornthwaite-Mather water-balance method

Intermediate hydrology

Hydrologic simulation models

PRMS, HSPF, VIC, DHSVM, GSFLOW

A, G, S

Downscaling and scenarios depend on calibration (gage data for small basins, variable climatic regimes)

Advanced hydrology and computer programming; training in use of specific model

Georgia, USA;

California, Nevada, USA;

Virginia, USA

MIKE SHE

A, G, S

Not in the public domain

Advanced hydrology and computer programming; training in use of specific model

TOPMODEL

A, G, S

Simplified representation of hydrologic processes

Intermediate hydrology and computer programming

Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)

A, G, S

Simplified representation of hydrologic processes

Intermediate hydrology and computer programming

Agricultural Catchments Research Units (ACRU)

A, G, S

Simplified representation of hydrologic processes

Intermediate hydrology and computer programming

Semi-Distributed Land-Use Runoff Process (SLURP)

A, G, S

Simplified representation of hydrologic processes

Intermediate hydrology and computer programming

Water use models

Permitted withdrawal databases

A, S

Subject to verification and actual water use

Familiarity with state water allocation administration

Land-cover/demographic models

A, S

Coarse resolution and low precision

Intermediate hydrology and GIS

Reservoir operation models

RESSIM

A, S

Applies to regulated sites; requires runoff input data

Advanced hydrology and computer programming; training in the use of the specific model

Riverware

A, S

Applies to regulated sites; requires runoff input data

Advanced hydrology and computer programming; training in the use of the specific model

Integrated models

WEAP 21

A,G, S

Does not integrate other tools that may already be developed

Advanced hydrology; training in the use of the specific model

Texas (USA) Water Availability Model

A, G

Output at a monthly time step

The Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields project;

A, G, S

Basin specific application

AFINCH

Under development

Sustainable Yield Indicator