Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland
Rapid suburbanization can alter catchment flow regime and increase stormwater runoff, posing threats to sensitive ecosystems. Applications of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have increasingly been adopted as part of integrated water management efforts to tackle the hydrological impact of urbanization w...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Hydrology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/6/141 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849432394676830208 |
|---|---|
| author | Lihoun Teang Kim N. Irvine Lloyd H. C. Chua Muhammad Usman |
| author_facet | Lihoun Teang Kim N. Irvine Lloyd H. C. Chua Muhammad Usman |
| author_sort | Lihoun Teang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapid suburbanization can alter catchment flow regime and increase stormwater runoff, posing threats to sensitive ecosystems. Applications of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have increasingly been adopted as part of integrated water management efforts to tackle the hydrological impact of urbanization with co-benefits for improved urban resilience, sustainability, and community well-being. However, the implementation of NbS can be hindered by gaps in performance assessment. This paper introduces a physically based dynamic modeling approach to assess the performance of a nature-based storage facility designed to capture excess runoff from an urbanizing catchment (Armstrong Creek catchment) in Geelong, Australia. The study adopts a numerical modelling approach, supported by extensive field monitoring of water levels over a 2.5-year period. The model provides a decision support tool for Geelong local government in managing stormwater runoff to protect Lake Connewarre, a Ramsar-listed wetland under the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula. Runoff is currently managed via a set of operating rules governing gate operations that prevents flows into the ecological sensitive downstream waterbody from December to April (drier periods in summer and most of autumn). Comparison with observed water level data at three monitoring stations for a continuous simulation period of May 2022 to October 2024 demonstrates satisfactory to excellent model performance (NSE: 0.55–0.79, R<sup>2</sup>: 0.80–0.89, ISE rating: excellent). Between 1670 × 10<sup>3</sup> m<sup>3</sup> and 2770 × 10<sup>3</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of runoff was intercepted by the nature-based storage facility, representing a 56–70% reduction in stormwater discharge into Lake Connewarre. Our model development underscores the importance of understanding and incorporating user interventions (gate operations and emergency pumping) from the standard operation plan to better manage catchment runoff. As revealed by the seasonal flow analysis for consecutive years, adaptive runoff management practices, capable of responding to rainfall variability, should be incorporated. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f7e066c4ff0f45bd962cdd59ea9ef315 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-5338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f7e066c4ff0f45bd962cdd59ea9ef3152025-08-20T03:27:22ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382025-06-0112614110.3390/hydrology12060141Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention WetlandLihoun Teang0Kim N. Irvine1Lloyd H. C. Chua2Muhammad Usman3Nature-Based Solutions for Water Management Research Unit, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Bangkok 12121, ThailandNature-Based Solutions for Water Management Research Unit, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Bangkok 12121, ThailandFaculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds 3216, Victoria, AustraliaFaculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds 3216, Victoria, AustraliaRapid suburbanization can alter catchment flow regime and increase stormwater runoff, posing threats to sensitive ecosystems. Applications of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have increasingly been adopted as part of integrated water management efforts to tackle the hydrological impact of urbanization with co-benefits for improved urban resilience, sustainability, and community well-being. However, the implementation of NbS can be hindered by gaps in performance assessment. This paper introduces a physically based dynamic modeling approach to assess the performance of a nature-based storage facility designed to capture excess runoff from an urbanizing catchment (Armstrong Creek catchment) in Geelong, Australia. The study adopts a numerical modelling approach, supported by extensive field monitoring of water levels over a 2.5-year period. The model provides a decision support tool for Geelong local government in managing stormwater runoff to protect Lake Connewarre, a Ramsar-listed wetland under the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula. Runoff is currently managed via a set of operating rules governing gate operations that prevents flows into the ecological sensitive downstream waterbody from December to April (drier periods in summer and most of autumn). Comparison with observed water level data at three monitoring stations for a continuous simulation period of May 2022 to October 2024 demonstrates satisfactory to excellent model performance (NSE: 0.55–0.79, R<sup>2</sup>: 0.80–0.89, ISE rating: excellent). Between 1670 × 10<sup>3</sup> m<sup>3</sup> and 2770 × 10<sup>3</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of runoff was intercepted by the nature-based storage facility, representing a 56–70% reduction in stormwater discharge into Lake Connewarre. Our model development underscores the importance of understanding and incorporating user interventions (gate operations and emergency pumping) from the standard operation plan to better manage catchment runoff. As revealed by the seasonal flow analysis for consecutive years, adaptive runoff management practices, capable of responding to rainfall variability, should be incorporated.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/6/141runoff managementNbSRamsar protectionurban developmenthydrologic/hydraulic modelingPCSWMM |
| spellingShingle | Lihoun Teang Kim N. Irvine Lloyd H. C. Chua Muhammad Usman Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland Hydrology runoff management NbS Ramsar protection urban development hydrologic/hydraulic modeling PCSWMM |
| title | Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland |
| title_full | Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland |
| title_short | Dynamics of Runoff Quantity in an Urbanizing Catchment: Implications for Runoff Management Using Nature-Based Retention Wetland |
| title_sort | dynamics of runoff quantity in an urbanizing catchment implications for runoff management using nature based retention wetland |
| topic | runoff management NbS Ramsar protection urban development hydrologic/hydraulic modeling PCSWMM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/6/141 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lihounteang dynamicsofrunoffquantityinanurbanizingcatchmentimplicationsforrunoffmanagementusingnaturebasedretentionwetland AT kimnirvine dynamicsofrunoffquantityinanurbanizingcatchmentimplicationsforrunoffmanagementusingnaturebasedretentionwetland AT lloydhcchua dynamicsofrunoffquantityinanurbanizingcatchmentimplicationsforrunoffmanagementusingnaturebasedretentionwetland AT muhammadusman dynamicsofrunoffquantityinanurbanizingcatchmentimplicationsforrunoffmanagementusingnaturebasedretentionwetland |