article · Water
Hydrological models help practitioners understand runoff behaviour and manage water resources in complex landscapes. In this investigation, three continuous hydrological modelling platforms, namely ATHYS, HEC-HMS, and SWAT, were compared to simulate streamflow scenarios in the Oued Laou Watershed in northern Morocco. Using daily rainfall and streamflow measurements calibrated over four years and validated over three years, the models were assessed across several statistical performance metrics. All three platforms proved capable of reproducing observed river flows, although their precision varied. SWAT demonstrated the strongest performance, improving during validation, while HEC-HMS delivered stable and consistent results across both phases. ATHYS also reproduced flows, though with slightly lower accuracy. Overall, semi-distributed and conceptual platforms demonstrated high suitability for capturing runoff in this physically heterogeneous Mediterranean watershed, indicating that their integration can support water resource assessment and hazard risk planning.
Selecting accurate rainfall-runoff models is essential for mitigating flood risks and planning water allocations in regions facing variable climates. By identifying which modelling frameworks handle watershed heterogeneity most reliably, water authorities and environmental planners can better predict discharge patterns, manage hazard risks, and make informed decisions about infrastructure and local water security.
This applied research provides comparative benchmark data for water resource planners, civil engineers, and environmental agencies tasked with hazard risk management in Mediterranean catchments. The models rely on established software platforms tested against real watershed data, placing the approach at an applied and tested stage ready for adoption in regional catchment planning, flood risk management, and municipal water resource assessment.
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This research evaluates the applicability of different types of hydrological models to simulate discharge behavior scenarios in a northern Moroccan watershed, Oued Laou Watershed (OLW). In this context, an improved understanding of the runoff mechanisms through hydrological modeling of the OLW can assist in the hazard risk management and facilitate the effective planning of water resources. For that end, a multitude of hydrological models were used to perform a very efficient modelling, and a comparative approach was adopted. Comparison of the models allowed the determination of potential sources of uncertainty in hydrological modelling of a subhumid watershed. Three models (ATelier Hydrologique Spatialisé (ATHYS), Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) with different characteristics were employed for a continuous modelling approach. The models were calibrated and validated using observed daily rainfall and streamflow data for 4 years (2004–2008) and 3 years (2009–2011), respectively. The multi-criteria model comparison (R², NSE, RSR, and PBIAS) showed that all three models are capable of reproducing the observed flows. The SWAT model performed well over both periods (NSE = 0.76 for calibration), with an improvement in validation (NSE = 0.84). A good agreement was also observed in the HEC-HMS model outputs, with an approximately stable NSE of 0.77 and 0.78 for calibration and validation phases, respectively. The ATHYS model showed a NSE value of 0.67 during the calibration, with a decrease of 0.06 towards the validation period. The other performance criteria confirmed these findings. Additionally, results suggest that semi-distributed and conceptual hydrological models are particularly suitable for the OLW given their physical heterogeneity. Generally, the integration of these models may be suitable for water resources assessment in OLW.
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DOI: 10.3390/w15030447
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