Hydrological modeling of the Mikkés watershed (Morocco) using ARCSWAT model

This study aims to contribute to water resource management in Mikkés watershed using the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. This model requires several input data, such as rainfall, temperature, digital elevation model, soil characteristics, and land use. The outputs of the model are water balance and sediment yield at sub-basin. The SWAT model was run and calibrated using Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) method in SWAT–CUP software for the period 1979–2007 with an efficiency of adjusted model rated as good (NSE = 0.67, PBIAIS = 6.78, RSR = 0.56). The balance of water generated by the model shows a dominance of evapotranspiration which represents 65% of rainfall, while surface runoff is 15% and total aquifer recharge is 20%. The model indicates that the sediment yields are largest in the southern area of the basin resulting in high slope, high rainfall, land use and erodible soils. These results revealed that hydrologic model can be used efficiently to support integrated watershed management.