Watershed Characteristics: Asheville Watershed

Watershed Characteristics: Asheville Watershed CIROH_HydroLearn View Course Problem Statement Imagine this: You're part of a dynamic team at a water resources management company, and your boss has just walked in with a pressing concern. A hurricane—Hurricane Helene (2024)—is approaching, and the Asheville Watershed is at risk. Your boss wants a detailed report on potential flood-prone areas and how the watershed might respond to the heavy rainfall and strong winds. "We need to be prepared," they say. "Our community relies on us to protect their water resources and mitigate flood damage." The Asheville Watershed spans 18,000 acres and serves as a lifeline, providing drinking water to over 125,000 people. However, its mountainous terrain and history of extreme weather events make it particularly vulnerable to flooding. The problem? There's no comprehensive analysis of its drainage patterns, sub-watersheds, or areas most likely to flood. Without this critical information, implementing effective flood mitigation strategies is nearly impossible. Your task is clear: Delineate the watershed, analyze its hydrological characteristics—such as flow networks, slopes, soil types, and land use—and identify flood-prone zones. This information will not only prepare your team for the immediate threat of Hurricane Helene but also lay the groundwork for sustainable watershed management strategies. With accurate data and analysis, your company can help protect Asheville's community, infrastructure, and vital water resources from future climatic events. Module Overview In this module, learners will focus on delineating key watershed boundaries using the NextGen hydrofabric, exploring how terrain, land use, and hydrologic connections shape flood risk in places like Asheville. They will learn to interpret geospatial data, understand the role of catchments and flowpaths, and apply standardized workflows in real-world scenarios. By the end, participants will be equipped to examine the physical factors behind Hurricane Helene's devastating impacts, setting the stage for improved flood preparedness and a deeper understanding of watershed behavior. Topics Covered Watershed Characteristics: Understanding key features such as drainage patterns, land use, soil types, and hydrological attributes. Watershed Delineation: Techniques and tools for identifying watershed boundaries and analyzing upstream and downstream connectivity. Prerequisites Hydrology: Familiarity with the concepts of hydrological modeling and basic understanding of watershed processes. GIS: Ability to use GIS tools to extract and analyze spatial information, such as delineating watersheds and mapping hydrological features. Python: Basic knowledge of Python, including running scripts and using libraries for data processing and analysis. Command Line: Understanding of command line operations to execute scripts, manage files, and perform basic troubleshooting. Learning Objectives Using aerial imagery and online resources, learners will be able to identify existing drainage features, outlet points along the watershed's main river, and recently flooded areas. Utilizing CIROH's Python-based NextGen In A Box (NGIAB) data preprocess tool, learners will be able to extract delineated watershed data from the hydrofabric. Analyzing information gathered from the data preprocess tool and online resources, learners will be able to evaluate how the watershed features influenced the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene. This will be accomplished through structured activities within each section. Results from each activity will be recorded in specified results templates, which are available at the beginning of each activity. The templates are designed to ensure that outputs from one activity can seamlessly feed into subsequent activities. Suggested Implementation This module is designed to be flexible and adaptable for instructors interested in incorporating it into their curriculum. For optimal implementation, it is recommended to integrate the module as part of a broader course on hydrology, environmental science, or GIS applications. The following approaches can enhance its effectiveness: Interactive Learning: Encourage students to actively use online tools, such as aerial imagery and the NGIAB data preprocess tool, to engage with real-world data and scenarios. Step-by-Step Guidance: Provide clear instructions and demonstrations on how to use the tools and templates provided in the module. Consider recording short tutorial videos for key steps. Collaborative Projects: Assign students to work in small groups to promote teamwork and critical thinking as they analyze the watershed and its features. Real-World Context: Emphasize the connection between the module activities and real-world applications, such as flood management and environmental conservation, to highlight the practical importance of the skills being developed. Assessment: Use the results templates to evaluate students' understanding and application of the concepts. Provide feedback to help them refine their analytical skills. By following these suggestions, instructors can ensure that students gain a hands-on understanding of watershed delineation and hydrological analysis while building skills that are directly applicable to their field. Course Authors Mohammad Farmani Mohammad Farmani is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences with a minor in Data Science at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on improving hydrological modeling by integrating physical-based approaches with advanced machine learning techniques. Mohammad has extensive experience working with the Noah-MP land surface model and has applied it to study soil-water processes, runoff generation, and baseflow dynamics, particularly in arid regions. His work focuses on integrating physical-based approaches with advanced machine learning techniques to improve hydrological modeling and decision-making. He has significant experience with the Noah-MP land surface model and hydrological tools like SWMM, HEC-HMS, and RAPID. In addition to his research, Mohammad is actively involved in educational initiatives, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and application in hydrology and environmental sciences. farmani@arizona.edu Md. Shahabul Alam Md. Shahabul Alam (PhD, 2020, University of Saskatchewan) is a Research Scientist at Alabama Water Institute, The University of Alabama. He is a Civil Engineer focused on large-scale hydrological modeling, model calibration and evaluation for the extreme events, climate change adaptation, and transboundary water resource management. His primary goal is to advance the Next Generation Water Resources Modeling Framework (NextGen) by conducting cutting-edge research within the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH). malam24@ua.edu Target Audience Operations The module is ideal for those looking to gain practical experience in delineating watersheds, and analyzing hydrological characteristics. Tools Needed GIS Software: Tools like ArcGIS or QGIS for spatial analysis and mapping. Python: A Python environment with necessary libraries (e.g., numpy, geopandas) for running scripts and analyzing data. Command Line Interface: Basic familiarity with the command line to execute scripts and manage files. NextGen In A Box (NGIAB) Tool: Python-based data preprocess tool for watershed delineation and hydrological analysis. Online Resources: Access to aerial imagery and hydrological datasets for research and analysis. Expected Effort The module developers estimate that this module will take between 3 to 5 hours of active work time to complete. This includes time spent on reviewing background materials, conducting analyses using provided tools, and completing all activities and assignments. The estimated effort accounts for engaging with interactive maps, processing data using Python-based tools, and compiling results in the provided templates. Students are encouraged to allocate additional time for discussions and refining their final reports if needed. Course Sharing and Adaptation This course is available for export by clicking the "Export Link" at the top right of this page. You will need a HydroLearn instructor studio account to do this. You will first need to sign up for a hydrolearn.org account, then you should register as an instructor by clicking 'studio.hydrolearn' and requesting course creation permissions. Recommended Citation Alam, M. S., & Farmani, M. A. (2025). Watershed Characteristics: Asheville Watershed. CIROH. https://edx.hydrolearn.org/courses/course-v1:CIROH_HydroLearn+OP_010+2025/about Related HydroLearn Modules Hydrologic Design of a Storm Detention Basin: Beau Bassin Watershed, LA Acknowledgement This project received funding under award NA22NWS4320003 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institute Program to the Cooperative Institute for Research on Hydrology (CIROH) through the University of Alabama. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NOAA.