Hydrological Modeling of the Chikugo River Basin Using SWAT: Insights into Water Balance and Seasonal Variability

Francis Jhun Macalam, Kunyang Wang, Shin-ichi Onodera (), Mitsuyo Saito, Yuko Nagano, Masatoshi Yamazaki and Yu War Nang
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Francis Jhun Macalam: Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
Kunyang Wang: Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
Shin-ichi Onodera: Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
Mitsuyo Saito: Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
Yuko Nagano: Japan Forest Technology Association, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
Masatoshi Yamazaki: PASCO Corporation, Tokyo 153-0043, Japan
Yu War Nang: Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: Integrated hydrological modeling plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable water resource management, particularly in regions facing seasonal and extreme precipitation events. However, comprehensive studies that assess hydrological variability in temperate river basins remain limited. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in simulating streamflow, water balance, and seasonal hydrological dynamics in the Chikugo River Basin, Kyushu Island, Japan. The basin, originating from Mount Aso and draining into the Ariake Sea, is subject to frequent typhoons and intense rainfall, making it a critical case for sustainable water governance. Using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Version 2 (SUFI-2) approach, we calibrated the SWAT model over the period 2007–2021. Water balance analysis revealed that baseflow plays dominant roles in basin hydrology which is essential for agricultural and domestic water needs by providing a stable groundwater contribution despite increasing precipitation and varying water demand. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of hydrological behavior in temperate catchments and offer a scientific foundation for sustainable water allocation, planning, and climate resilience strategies.

Keywords: Chikugo River; hydrological modeling; seasonal; streamflow; SWAT; watershed; water balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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