Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model

The widespread use of check dams for water resource management and environmental conservation purposes has been well-established for centuries. Nevertheless, to further improve our understanding of their effectiveness, this study provides a novel evaluation of how check dam construction has impacted...

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Main Authors: Ahmed M. Al-Areeq, Isam H. Aljundi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2025.2451737
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author Ahmed M. Al-Areeq
Isam H. Aljundi
author_facet Ahmed M. Al-Areeq
Isam H. Aljundi
author_sort Ahmed M. Al-Areeq
collection DOAJ
description The widespread use of check dams for water resource management and environmental conservation purposes has been well-established for centuries. Nevertheless, to further improve our understanding of their effectiveness, this study provides a novel evaluation of how check dam construction has impacted the hydrologic processes in the Al-Dayer watershed. A state-of-the-art, fully distributed, physically based hydrologic model (GSSHA) was used to simulate the impact of check dams on runoff duration, runoff volume, and peak discharge using hydrographs under different check dam scenarios, which include different check dam locations and different numbers of check dams. The study results reveal that constructing check dam significantly reduces peak discharge and runoff volume while increasing runoff duration. Furthermore, compared to longer return periods, the runoff coefficient decreases significantly for shorter. The three check dams reduced the runoff volume, peak discharge, and runoff coefficient by 3.6%, 36.53%, and 6.9% for 2 years return period and 2.14%, 37.9%, and 4.2% for 100 years, while the entire system (five check dams) reduced them by 3.68%, 39.16%, and 7.1% for 2 years and 1.83%, 37.9%, and 3.59% for 100 years. The results highlight the importance of considering the number and location of check dams for optimal impact on runoff processes within a watershed.
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spelling doaj-art-c908b9ab40964647af23c2d6ab3bd29d2025-01-23T13:55:56ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk1947-57051947-57132025-12-0116110.1080/19475705.2025.2451737Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic modelAhmed M. Al-Areeq0Isam H. Aljundi1Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaInterdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaThe widespread use of check dams for water resource management and environmental conservation purposes has been well-established for centuries. Nevertheless, to further improve our understanding of their effectiveness, this study provides a novel evaluation of how check dam construction has impacted the hydrologic processes in the Al-Dayer watershed. A state-of-the-art, fully distributed, physically based hydrologic model (GSSHA) was used to simulate the impact of check dams on runoff duration, runoff volume, and peak discharge using hydrographs under different check dam scenarios, which include different check dam locations and different numbers of check dams. The study results reveal that constructing check dam significantly reduces peak discharge and runoff volume while increasing runoff duration. Furthermore, compared to longer return periods, the runoff coefficient decreases significantly for shorter. The three check dams reduced the runoff volume, peak discharge, and runoff coefficient by 3.6%, 36.53%, and 6.9% for 2 years return period and 2.14%, 37.9%, and 4.2% for 100 years, while the entire system (five check dams) reduced them by 3.68%, 39.16%, and 7.1% for 2 years and 1.83%, 37.9%, and 3.59% for 100 years. The results highlight the importance of considering the number and location of check dams for optimal impact on runoff processes within a watershed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2025.2451737Check damsflash floodGSSHA hydrologic modelhydrologic processeswatershed managementAl-Dayer
spellingShingle Ahmed M. Al-Areeq
Isam H. Aljundi
Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Check dams
flash flood
GSSHA hydrologic model
hydrologic processes
watershed management
Al-Dayer
title Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
title_full Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
title_fullStr Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
title_short Evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in Al-Dayer watershed using a physically-based hydrologic model
title_sort evaluating the impact of check dam construction on runoff processes in al dayer watershed using a physically based hydrologic model
topic Check dams
flash flood
GSSHA hydrologic model
hydrologic processes
watershed management
Al-Dayer
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2025.2451737
work_keys_str_mv AT ahmedmalareeq evaluatingtheimpactofcheckdamconstructiononrunoffprocessesinaldayerwatershedusingaphysicallybasedhydrologicmodel
AT isamhaljundi evaluatingtheimpactofcheckdamconstructiononrunoffprocessesinaldayerwatershedusingaphysicallybasedhydrologicmodel