SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT THROUGH RUNOFF ATTENUATION MEASURES FOR FLOOD MITIGATION IN THE SAN SEBASTIÁN RAVINE MICRO-WATERSHED, GUANO CANTON
Keywords:
Runoff attenuation; HEC-HMS; Hydrognomon; floods; San Sebastián micro-watershed; Curve NumberAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/yc.v10i18.0911
Abstract
This study evaluated sustainable water management through runoff attenuation measures for flood mitigation in the San Sebastián Ravine micro-watershed, Guano Canton, Ecuador. The research integrated morphometric analysis, statistical rainfall validation, hydrological modeling using HEC-HMS, hydraulic simulation with HEC-RAS, and spatial prioritization of bioengineering measures through the HIRO methodological framework. Maximum 24-hour rainfall records from the FRN-ESPOCH station for the 2000–2021 period were processed in Hydrognomon using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and probability distribution fitting to estimate design rainfall for 25-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year return periods. These rainfall values were incorporated into HEC-HMS together with morphometric parameters and the SCS-CN method to simulate rainfall-runoff response. Results showed peak discharges of 5.00, 6.90, 9.60, and 17.70 m³/s for return periods of 25, 50, 100, and 500 years, respectively. The hydraulic simulation conducted in HEC-RAS for the 500-year event reported a maximum flow depth of 23.21 m and a maximum velocity of 25.30 m/s, identifying sectors with high hydraulic energy, erosion potential, and susceptibility to soil degradation processes. The application of the HIRO framework enabled the prioritization of suitable areas for reforestation, infiltration trenches, live barriers, and gully control measures. Under the reforestation scenario, peak discharges decreased to 2.70, 4.10, 5.70, and 10.60 m³/s, representing reductions between 40.11% and 46.00%. It is concluded that the integration of hydrological, hydraulic, and geospatial tools provides an effective approach for identifying critical areas and designing sustainable watershed management strategies, where nature-based solutions significantly reduce surface runoff, flow energy, and flood risk in Andean micro-watersheds.
Keywords: Runoff attenuation; HEC-HMS; Hydrognomon; floods; San Sebastián micro-watershed; Curve Number.
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