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Evaluation of Wetland Area Effects on Hydrology and Water Quality at Watershed Scale

Author

Listed:
  • Dipesh Nepal

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

  • Prem Parajuli

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

  • Ying Ouyang

    (Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, USDA Forest Service, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

  • Filip To

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

  • Nuwan Wijewardane

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

  • Vivek Venishetty

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA)

Abstract

Change in land use and land cover (LULC) is crucial to freshwater ecosystems as it affects surface runoff, groundwater storage, and sediment and nutrient transport within watershed areas. Ecosystem components such as wetlands, which can contribute to the reduction of water pollution and the enhancement of groundwater recharge, are altered by LULC modifications. This study evaluates how wetlands in the Big Sunflower River Watershed (BSRW) have changed in recent years and quantified their impacts on streamflow, water quality, and groundwater storage using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The model was well calibrated and validated prior to its application. Our study showed that the maximum increase in wetland areas within the sub-watersheds of interest was 26% from 2008 to 2020. The maximum changes in reduction due to the increase in wetland areas were determined by 2% for streamflow, 37% for total suspended solids, 13% for total phosphorus (TP), 4% for total nitrogen (TN), and the maximum increase in shallow groundwater storage by 90 mm from 2008 to 2020 only in the selected sub-basins. However, the central part of the watershed experienced average declines of groundwater levels up to 176 mm per year due to water withdrawal for irrigation or other uses. This study also found that restoration of 460 to 550 ha of wetlands could increase the reduction of discharge by 20%, sediment by 25%, TN by 18%, and TP by 12%. This study highlights the importance of wetland conservation for water quality improvement and management of groundwater resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Dipesh Nepal & Prem Parajuli & Ying Ouyang & Filip To & Nuwan Wijewardane & Vivek Venishetty, 2024. "Evaluation of Wetland Area Effects on Hydrology and Water Quality at Watershed Scale," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:13:y:2024:i:8:p:114-:d:1461999
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mitsch, William J. & Gosselink, James G., 2000. "The value of wetlands: importance of scale and landscape setting," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 25-33, October.
    2. Dipesh Nepal & Prem B. Parajuli, 2022. "Assessment of Best Management Practices on Hydrology and Sediment Yield at Watershed Scale in Mississippi Using SWAT," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Dakhlalla, Abdullah O. & Parajuli, Prem B. & Ouyang, Ying & Schmitz, Darrel W., 2016. "Evaluating the impacts of crop rotations on groundwater storage and recharge in an agricultural watershed," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 332-343.
    4. Gassman, Philip W. & Reyes, Manuel R. & Green, Colleen H. & Arnold, Jeffrey G., 2007. "The Soil and Water Assessment Tool: Historical Development, Applications, and Future Research Directions," ISU General Staff Papers 200701010800001027, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    5. Ni, Xiaojing & Parajuli, Prem B., 2018. "Evaluation of the impacts of BMPs and tailwater recovery system on surface and groundwater using satellite imagery and SWAT reservoir function," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 78-87.
    6. F. Y. Cheng & K. J. Van Meter & D. K. Byrnes & N. B. Basu, 2020. "Maximizing US nitrate removal through wetland protection and restoration," Nature, Nature, vol. 588(7839), pages 625-630, December.
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