Investigation of Seasonal Hydrology and Variable Source Areas within Regions of

Ontario

Ramesh Rudra

(R.P. Rudra, B. Gharabaghi, S, Gregori, W.T. Dickinson) (S.I Ahmed, A Singh, M. Ahmed, J. Whiteside)

(K. Chapi, M. Khayer and R. Sharma)(Summer Students)

School of EngineeringUniversity of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1

Connection to NMJRP

Maximum liquid loading rates Major emphasis

– Seasonal hydrology

• Relationship with– Slope classes – Shallow soils over bedrock or groundwater – Tile-drained lands – N Index – P Index

Objectives1) To complete a comprehensive literature review on spatial

and seasonal dimensions (variations) of Ontario hydrology, including environmental factors influencing runoff generation.

2) To quantify seasonal variability in surface runoff, base flow, and tile flow and their relationship with soil, land use and topographic characteristics of the watershed in various physiographic regions.

3) To quantify seasonal variations in soil hydraulic properties and their relationships with hydrologic soil groups, and to develop an improved procedure for classification of soils into hydrologic soil groups.

4) To develop procedures (experimental and model) to map surface runoff contributing areas in a watershed.

Research Focus – Seasonal Hydrology

• Analysis of stream flow in various regions.

190 watersheds.

• Instrumentation and monitoring of a watershed for runoff contributing area for 14 rainfall events during summer and fall.

• Rainfall simulation and infiltration field experiments at 5 sites covering 4 hydrologic soil groups for summer, spring, and fall

• Only material used is water

Time, t

Discharge

m3/s

Precip

mm/hr

AB

C

D E

Direct

Runoff

Baseflow

Methodology - Objective 1

Comprehensive bibliography on analysis of hydrology

• Precipitation, Temperature, ET.• Annual water budget, Seasonal

water budget• Slow response (Base flow),

Quick response (Surface runoff)• Land use and tile drainage• Effect of wetlands/riparian zones • Identification of the impact of

physiographic and climatic characteristics

• Identification of research gaps for source water protection and nutrient management

• All conservation authorities in the province were contacted

Methodology - Objective 2

Stream flow variations analysis (190 watersheds) with respect to

• Precipitation• Annual, seasonal, and monthly

runoff coefficients, base flow index, and tile flow index.

• Relationship of runoff coefficients, base flow index, and tile flow index watershed characteristics

• Results presented are for example watersheds.

• Tile drainage analysis is still in progress.

• Relationship with watershed characteristics is still in progress..

Base Flow Separation Methods

Digital filter method

PART method

UKIH method

Local minima method

Sliding base method

Fixed base method

Comparison of Base Flow Separation MethodsB

ase

Flo

w,

Cu

m/s

Base Flow Index vs Watershed CharacteristicsExamples

Watershed Drainage Characteristics

Hydrologic Soil Group

BFI

LITTLE River at Windsor P(95%) D(95%) 0.40

RUSCOM River at Ruscom P(94%) D(81%) 0.46

TURKEY Creek at Windsor P(87%) D(86%) 0.50

DUFFINS Creek at Ajax W(82%), I(27%) A(21%), B(57%) 0.72

EAST HUMBER River near Pine Griove W(63%), I(28%) B(14%), C(57%) 0.73

EAST HUMBER River at King Creek W(69%), I(22%) B(27%), C(52%) 0.74

NOTTAWASAGA River near Alliston W(83%) A(63%), B(19%) 0.83

HUNSBERGER Creek near Wilmot Centre

W(83%) A(80%) 0.84

PINE River near Everett W(91%) A(40%),B(41%) 0.88

Methodology – Objective 3

Reclassification of Hydrologic Soil Groups

• Fabricated and evaluation of rainfall simulators.

• Rainfall simulation experiments at five locations, covering four hydrologic soil groups.

• Infiltrometer experiments.

• Monitoring of rainfall, surface runoff, soil moisture, topographic and land use characteristics.

– Mostly summer season

– Some spring and fall seasons

Field Experimental Sites

Location Soil

Hydrologic Group

Latitude/ Longitude

(deg min sec)

General Slope (%)

Soil Texture

Guelph Turfgrass Institute

A 430 33’ 0” N 800 13’ 0” W

4.5 -7.3 Sandy loam

Arkell Research Station

A 460 02’ 0” N 980 23’ 0” W

3 - 9 Burford loam

Elora Research Station

B 430 39’ 0” N 800 25’ 0” W

6 - 7.5 Silt loam

Elora Research Station

C 430 39’ 0” N 800 25’ 0” W

3 - 4.5 Colwood silt loam

St. Catherine

D 430 01’ 48.51” N 790 25’ 37.31” W

1.5-6 Clay

Variation in soil Hydraulic Properties

• The data from the field experiments indicated range of variability much broader than is "useful" for "within-field" decision-making. for nutrient use efficiency. 

• These data will not yield realistic trends to classify the soil into more detailed soil groups.

• More field data is required for improved hydrologic soil group classification.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0.042 0.042 0.046 0.077 0.119 0.119 0.198 0.286 0.290 0.329 0.445 0.559 0.576 0.585

Initial Soil Moisture Content

Curv

e Nu

mbe

r (CN

)

Hydrologic Group: A

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0.022 0.023 0.081 0.107 0.15 0.298 0.35 0.36 0.431 0.495 0.495 0.597

Initial Moisture Content

Cur

ve N

umbe

r (C

N)

Hydrologic Group: A

Methodology – Objective 4

Mapping of contributing area (Variable Source Area)

Experimental approach• Development and evaluation of

runoff sensors and wireless recording system.– Evaluation in the laboratory.– Evaluation in the field.

• Installation of runoff sensors• Monitoring of 14 rainfall events• Analysis of the experimental

data for VSA.

Modeling Approach• Development of VSA model• Evaluation of VSA model

Development and Evaluation of Runoff Sensors

Long AntennaTemperature FluctuationsLow Accuracy

Smaller and Shorter AntennaNo temperature readingMore Accuracy

15

Testing in the laboratory Testing in the Field Calibration for backwater effects

Field Installation

An Example of Data CollectedEight pressure sensors, soil moisture sensors and V-notches were installed in the watershed.

Data reported is from runoff sensors

Fourteen rainfall events were recorded during Summer and Fall 2008

Rainfall Event Date

Duration (min)

Total amount of Rainfall

(mm)

Rainfall Intensity (mm/hr)

% of area contributing

runoff

July 30, 2008

90 7.8 4.8 0

August 10, 2008

40 18.4 27.6 100

August 18, 2008

70 9.8 8.4 45

July 30, 08 August 10, 08

August 18, 08

An Example of Variable Source Area Modeling

17

The July 22nd , 2008 rainfall event is selected as an example for Variable Source Area (VSA) modeling.

An Example of Variable Source Area Modeling

18

Contributing to NM Science

• The objectives of this study have evaluated the seasonal and spatial variability of hydrology, an issue relating to source water protection and nutrient management.

• The extensive literature review provided a sound base for the direction of the various field and computer modelling techniques for source water protection and nutrient management.

Large (Provincial) Scale

Identified for the non-regulated watersheds (190) which are predominantly either surface runoff or base flow.– This will be helpful for N and P index

Contributing to NM ScienceMedium (Large Watershed) Scale

Linkage between surface runoff, base flow, tile flow (in progress) components of the stream flow with precipitation characteristic and watershed characteristics.

Medium (Small watershed and Field) Scale• Development of an innovative field technology to identify

and quantify areas contributing surface runoff to the stream (VSA) from a field or a small watershed.– Helps to fill gaps to understand and enhance

knowledge of Ontario seasonal hydrology. • Development of an approach to model area contributing

surface runoff to the stream (VSA) from a field or a small watershed.– Developed experimental technology and modeling

approach require evaluation at more locations.

Contributing to NM Science

Small (Field or Plot) Scale• Development of experimental methodology for improved

classification of hydrologic soil groups. – Range of variability much broader than is "useful" for

"within-field" decision-making. for nutrient use efficiency. 

– More field data is required for improved hydrologic soil group classification.

• The observed field data, extensive watershed based hydrological analysis and the developed variable source area model are promising findings.

• The outcome of this research is a significant contribution for source water protection and nutrient management.