Abstract

Subwatershed planning, incorporating multi-disciplinary input from the engineering, geotechnical, hydrogeologic, and environmental sectors, is greatly facilitated by continuous simulation techniques. This paper describes the use of the HSP-F hydrologic model applied to an urbanizing watershed in Burlington, Ontario. The conventional continuous analysis approach has been shown not to be a cost-effective means of evaluating stormwater management techniques (Best Management Practices) in subwatershed planning. Various alternative approaches have been examined to simplify this analysis, while maintaining the overall integrity of the continuous simulation philosophy. As a simplification of continuous simulation, the concept of continuous analysis has been advanced by technical agencies and the consulting community. Continuous analysis is a procedure whereby hydrographs, produced through long-term continuous simulation, are numerically processed using simple computational techniques (i.e. black box), external to any standard hydrologic model. Typically this procedure facilitates the functional assessment of alternate stormwater management techniques appropriate for the watershed system under analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are documented, along with an indication of computational effort. In addition to the foregoing, this paper outlines:

1)A method of transposing to a neighbouring watershed.

2) The use of the HSP-F duration analysis in assessing the effect of future development on the erosion regime.

3) An anomaly resulting from the application of frequency analysis when comparing existing and future annual maximum flows.

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