The influence of deforestation on runoff generation and soil erosion (Case study: Kasilian Watershed)

Abstract

Destroying of forest lands and landuse changes have caused undesirable effects in the watershed hydrologic conditions. Landuse and vegetation are important factors in soil erosion and runoff generation. This research has been done using a runoff-rainfall model, sediment-erosion model, Geographical Information System and remote sensing to determine the hydrologic effects of deforestation on Kasilian watershed (north of Iran). A runoff-rainfall model has been presented using GIS (HEC-GeoHMS extension) and hydrologic model (HEC-HMS). The SCS method has been used for presenting the hydrologic model. It is to note that the optimized model is evaluated by other six events of floods. Then, the optimized model has been validated. Erosion potential method model has been applied in GIS environment to simulate soil erosion and sediment rate. According to the obtained results, the runoff and sediment generation potential have been increased in the Kasilian watershed due to deforestation during the last forty years.

Keywords

• forest
• landuse
• runoff-rainfall model
• sediment
• iran