Citation:

Yang, H., S. Tong, H. Chen, AND J. Yang. Hydrologic impacts of climate change and urbanization in Las Vegas Wash Watershed, Nevada. Journal of Water and Climate Change. IWA Publishing, London, Uk, 7(3):598-620, (2016).

Impact/Purpose:

Technical communication to the science community on research results of combined land use change and climate change to urban water supplies

Description:

In this study, a cell-based model for the Las Vegas Wash (LVW) Watershed in Clark County, Nevada, was developed by combining the traditional hydrologic modeling methods (Thornthwaite’s water balance model and the Soil Conservation Survey’s Curve Number method) with the pixel-based computing technology. After the model was calibrated and validated, it was used to predict the hydrologic conditions in 2030 and 2050 under future changes in climate and land use. The climate projection was based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Annual Report 4 (AR4) B1 climate scenario, and the land use change scenario was derived from a CA-Markov land use model. Results indicate that the future total surface runoff in the watershed will significantly decrease in winters but increase in summers. Climate change is found to be the primary controlling factor over total runoff from the watershed. Urban development is projected to increase the monthly runoff and likely contributes 1.1-18.7% of the total changes. This finding may be useful to city planners and resource managers in devising future urban development plans and water management policies.

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