Effect of water harvesting structures on the water balance of a micro-watershed in the Corredor Seco of Nicaragua using the SWAT hydrological model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24850/j-tyca-2026-05-11Keywords:
rain, water storage, water balance, runoff, groundwater, river basins, arid zones, soil moisture, mathematical models, SWAT, NicaraguaAbstract
This study evaluated the hydrological impact of increasing the number of runoff water harvesting structures (OCAS) in the Quebrada Sucia micro-watershed, located in the Corredor Seco of Nicaragua. The SWAT hydrological model was used to simulate a baseline scenario without structures and three additional scenarios: one with existing OCAS, one with a 25 % increase, and a final scenario with a 50 % increase in the number of these structures, over the period 2001-2019. Results revealed significant increases in the evaluated hydrological variables, highlighting maximum increases of up to 23 % in groundwater flow, up to 20 % in percolation, and at least 15 % in soil moisture for the scenario with the greatest implementation (50 % increase). Natural vegetation covers, such as grasslands and shrublands, showed the most favorable hydrological responses, while agricultural crops and urban areas registered moderate increases. These findings confirm that runoff water harvesting structures play a crucial role in enhancing internal redistribution and water retention in semi-arid regions such as the Corredor Seco.
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