Variation of surface runoff due to change of land use in the river duero watershed

The dynamics and availability of the water resource is a fundamental aspect in the study of watersheds. From the temporal perspective, water resource is related to precipitation, which varies with hydrometeorological events, while spatially, it is largely related to the land use or vegetation cover. The changes in surface runoff of the Duero river basin, Mexico, using the SWAT model was investigated. The input data for the model include climatic variables, soil properties, topography, and four periods of land use map. The runoff estimates of the SWAT were compared with the streamflow data from the National Data Bank of Surface Water. An elevated record of runoff of up to 30 Dam3 (cubic decameter) was observed in 1983 in the municipalities of Tangamandapio and Tangancicuaro, which was likely associated with forest clearing since the 1970s. A decrease of runoff to 10 Dam3 was also observed in 2000, likely reflecting the conservation practice of forest management. The simulations for 2011 and 2014 indicate high runoff in the municipality of Chilchota due to the modification of its forest areas and traditional agriculture to accommodate the cultivation of the avocado crop and berries.