Modelling Water Management using SWAT+ : Application of Reservoirs Release Tables and the New Water Allocation Module in a Highly Managed River Basin

Incorporating the simulation of water management actions in hydrological models is paramount to enhance their reliability and usefulness. SWAT + (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) includes novelties in this aspect compared to its previous versions: the decision tables and the water allocation module provide enhanced capabilities for configuring management actions. Despite their potential, these features have not yet been applied due to their novelty. This study pioneers the use of SWAT + ’s new features applied in the Upper Tagus River Basin, a densely populated and highly regulated catchment. Irrigation, reservoir management, and various kinds of water transfers were incorporated in a SWAT + model of this basin. The implementation of management actions and their impact on the model performance were evaluated. The model accurately reproduced water demand for irrigation and water transfers, capturing both the demand volume and timing. The water sources were configured to meet most of the demand, with 73% of irrigation and 90% of water transfer requirements being satisfied. Release decision tables were configured for 31 reservoirs, resulting in an accurate simulation of outflow and storage in many of them. Incorporating management actions improved the streamflow simulation at the basin outlet, both considering the hydrograph and performance metrics (e.g., PBIAS was reduced by more than 50%). Some potential improvements in the model configuration and in the code were identified and will be addressed in future studies. This work provides a comprehensive guide to SWAT + ’s new features and the methodology employed, making it valuable for anyone working with the model.