Application of SWAT and APEX Models Using SWAP (SWAT/APEX Program) for Upper North Bosque River Watershed in Texas

In response to the Clean Water Act in early 1970s, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) branch of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the development of several processed-based nonpoint source models. These models are used to assess and evaluate various BMPs (best management practices) at field (using Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender, APEX) and watershed (using Soil Water Assessment Tool, SWAT) levels. However, these models are capable of simulating a limited number of scenarios individually. During this study the SWAP (SWAT/APEX Programs) program is developed to facilitate the simultaneous use of these two models. The SWAT (version 2000) and APEX (version 1310) models are applied using the SWAP program to the upper North Bosque River (UNBR) watershed located in central Texas. Flow and loadings (sediment, and nutrient) from various land uses, such as cropland and pasture, are simulated by APEX and then are routed by SWAT within the SWAP program. SWAT alone (SWAT-A) and combined SWAT and APEX models within SWAP program are calibrated and verified against historical monitoring data collected within UNBR watershed. The UNBR watershed is simulated from 1988 through 1999; model output is calibrated for flow, sediment, and nutrients measured at the outlet of UNBR watershed for the period of January 1994 through June 1995 and verified for the period of July 1995 to December 1998. The results of this study show that output from SWAT-A and SWAP are similarly close to measured values, which indicates that the simulated field conditions by APEX can be routed by SWAT at the watershed level using the SWAP program.