Abstract

VELASQUEZ VALLE, Miguel A. et al. Hydrological behavior of a small rangeland and forest watershed in southeastern Coahuila. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.43, pp.143-164. ISSN 2007-1132.

The deterioration of the ecosystem forest puts rain water storage and flow at risk. The State of Coahuila comprises 450 000 hectares of forests that serve as a rainwater catchment area. Continuous monitoring of the hydrological variables of the watershed is essential for make a better use of this resource, particularly where there is climatic uncertainty. The objective of this study was to document the hydrological behavior of a small experimental forest and rangeland watershed by monitoring the variables and through the use of a hydrological model with spatially semi-distributed parameters of the Experimental Watershed of INIFAP in Saltillo, Coahuila. The hydrological response of the watershed was analyzed based on the historical precipitation records quantified for 2016. The WIN TR-55 model was used to explain the absence of runoff in terms of the semi-distributed parameters of the watershed. The precipitation data for 2016 showed that source areas of surface runoff are the mountainsides, and that the bottom (the valley) acts as a buffer area that restricts its flow towards the runoff gauging station. According to the model simulations, a daily precipitation of over 65 mm is required in order to record surface flow at the runoff gauging station.

Keywords : Source area; curve number; surface runoff; WIN TR - 55 model; rainfall monitoring; hydrological process.

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