Estimating Infiltration in the Upper Split Wash Watershed, Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 2
Abstract
The KINEROS2 rainfall-runoff model was used in this case study to estimate plane and channel infiltration within the Upper Split Wash watershed on Yucca Mountain, Nev. Averaged over the watershed area, estimated mean annual runoff, channel infiltration, and bedrock infiltration were 3.6, 0.6, and . Most overland flow resulted from saturation of thin soils during low-intensity winter storms. The greatest excess infiltration (the difference between actual infiltration and precipitation) occurs on lower portions of hillslopes having deep soils receiving runoff from upslope areas. The greatest bedrock infiltration occurs on hillslope areas with thin soils and high values of bedrock hydraulic conductivity . A sensitivity analysis suggests that estimated runoff and infiltration rates are most sensitive to soil depth and are less sensitive to bedrock , the soil hydraulic parameter defining field capacity and wilting point, the soil capillary drive parameter, and the antecedent precipitation index.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was prepared to document work performed by the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under Contract No. UNSPECIFIEDNRC-02-02-012. The activities reported here were performed on behalf of the NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety. This paper is an independent product of CNWRA and does not necessarily reflect the view or regulatory position of NRC. The writers thank D. C. Goodrich and C. Unkrich of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for their assistance with the KINEROS2 model.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 2 • March 2006
Pages: 123 - 133
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 13, 2004
Accepted: Mar 21, 2005
Published online: Mar 1, 2006
Published in print: Mar 2006
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