Groundwater is a valuable shared resource in the Moulouya Basin, but it has been in decline due to recent years of low rainfall and rapid population growth. To support socio-economic development, there is increased demand for this precious resource. This paper presents a standard methodology for delimiting potential groundwater zones using geographic information systems (GIS), an integrated analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and remote sensing techniques. Seven parameters that monitor the presence and mobility of groundwater, including drainage density, lithology, slope, precipitation, land use/land cover, distance to river, and lineament density, were incorporated into a raster data model using ArcGIS software. AHP-based expert knowledge was used to prepare a groundwater potential index and assign weights to the thematic layers. The study classified the area into five zones of varying groundwater potential: very high (26%), high (51%), moderate (13%), poor (9%), and very poor (1%). The accuracy of the model was validated by comparing the Groundwater Potential Zones map with data from 96 wells and boreholes across the basin. The validity of the results was confirmed by comparing them with the specific yield of the aquifer in the study area, yielding a high correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.79. The analysis revealed that 89.5% of the boreholes were situated in the high and very high potential zones, demonstrating the reliability and robustness of the employed approach. These findings can aid decision-making and planning for sustainable groundwater use in the water-stressed region.

This research evaluates the applicability of different types of hydrological models to simulate discharge behavior scenarios in a northern Moroccan watershed, Oued Laou Watershed (OLW). In this context, an improved understanding of the runoff mechanisms through hydrological modeling of the OLW can assist in the hazard risk management and facilitate the effective planning of water resources. For that end, a multitude of hydrological models were used to perform a very efficient modelling, and a comparative approach was adopted. Comparison of the models allowed the determination of potential sources of uncertainty in hydrological modelling of a subhumid watershed. Three models (ATelier Hydrologique Spatialisé (ATHYS), Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) with different characteristics were employed for a continuous modelling approach. The models were calibrated and validated using observed daily rainfall and streamflow data for 4 years (2004–2008) and 3 years (2009–2011), respectively. The multi-criteria model comparison (R², NSE, RSR, and PBIAS) showed that all three models are capable of reproducing the observed flows. The SWAT model performed well over both periods (NSE = 0.76 for calibration), with an improvement in validation (NSE = 0.84). A good agreement was also observed in the HEC-HMS model outputs, with an approximately stable NSE of 0.77 and 0.78 for calibration and validation phases, respectively. The ATHYS model showed a NSE value of 0.67 during the calibration, with a decrease of 0.06 towards the validation period. The other performance criteria confirmed these findings. Additionally, results suggest that semi-distributed and conceptual hydrological models are particularly suitable for the OLW given their physical heterogeneity. Generally, the integration of these models may be suitable for water resources assessment in OLW.

This study evaluated the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model performance for modeling the portioning of rainfall in the Laou watershed (area: 940 km2) that extended over two different climatic settings in Morocco, (the Mediterranean sub-humid and the semi-arid). This research also...

In semi-arid regions such as the southwestern zone of Morocco, better management of water resources is crucial due to the frequent flooding phenomena. In this context, the use of hydrological models is becoming increasingly important, specifically in the Aguenza watershed. A multitude of hydrological models are available to make very efficient modeling, and from this perspective, a comparative approach was adopted using two models with different characteristics. Streamflow simulations were carried out continuously at daily time steps using GR4J and ATHYS (2002–2011). The latter was used also to simulate rainfall-runoff events (1984–2014). Simulation results using the distributed model are very efficient compared to those obtained by the lumped model “GR4J”, which shows the disadvantages of neglecting the hydrological processes during a hydrological study. However, a remarkable improvement was observed in the general appearance of the resulting hydrographs and the performance parameters after using the distributed model ((Calibration: NSE, RSR, and PBIAS increased successively by 8%, 6%, and 45.2%); (Validation: NSE, RSR, and PBIAS increased successively by 6%, 4%, and 8.9%)). In terms of flood event simulations, a good concordance between observed and simulated discharge was observed (NSE_median = 0.7), indicating its great reliability for simulating rainfall-runoff events in semi-arid and data-scarce regions. This research highlights the importance of using hydrological models, specifically the distributed model ATHYS, for the better management of water resources in semi-arid regions with frequent flooding events.

Hydrological modeling predicts flood discharge and diminishes the danger by minimizing the environmental damages downstream. This study aimed to investigate the application of the ATHYS Models platform for simulating the rainfall-runoff relationship in Oued Laou Watershed (940 km2). The study...