Retrospective Comparison of Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework and Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran Applications to Mica Creek Watershed

Abstract

As part of an ongoing watershed model comparison program for forested watersheds, Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF V5.18) and Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF V10) were independently applied to the Mica Creek Watershed in Idaho. A comprehensive model comparison was made in terms of watershed delineation, hydrologic formulations, model parameterization, meteorological data, hydrologic calibration, and hydrologic verification. Comparison was not made for water quality, which was not simulated in the HSPF application. It was concluded that WARMF is a mechanistic model structured to simulate the hydrologic processes, whereas HSPF is an empirical water budget model. The WARMF is suitable for application to forested watersheds. It successfully predicted stream flows comparable to measured values. The HSPF results were also good, if one ignores an unrealistic amount of water loss to inactive groundwater and an empirical treatment of rain-on-snow events.