Using modified Soil Conservation Service curve number method to simulate the role of forest in flood control in the upper reach of the Tingjiang River in China

01/01/2017

Abstract To improve flood control efficiency and increase urban resilience to flooding, the impacts of forest type change on flood control in the upper reach of the Tingjiang River (URTR) were evaluated by a modified model based on the Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS-CN) method. Parameters of the model were selected and determined according to the comprehensive analysis of model evaluation indexes. The first simulation of forest reconstruction scenario, namely a coniferous forest covering 59.35 km2 is replaced by a broad-leaved forest showed no significant impact on the flood reduction in the URTR. The second simulation was added with 61.75 km2 bamboo forest replaced by broad-leaved forest, the reduction of flood peak discharge and flood volume could be improved significantly. Specifically, flood peak discharge of 10-year return period event was reduced to 7-year event, and the reduction rate of small flood was 21%-28%. Moreover, the flood volume was reduced by 9%-14% and 18%-35% for moderate floods and small floods, respectively. The results suggest that the bamboo forest reconstruction is an effective control solution for small to moderate flood in the URTR, the effect of forest conversion on flood volume is increasingly reduced as the rainfall amount increases to more extreme magnitude. Using a hydrological model with scenarios analysis is an effective simulation approach in investigating the relationship between forest type change and flood control. This method would provide reliable support for flood control and disaster mitigation in mountainous cities.