Modelling the Impact of Vegetation Change on Hydrological Processes in Bayin River Basin, Northwest China

Vegetation change in arid areas may lead to the redistribution of regional water resources, which can intensify competition between ecosystems and humans for resources. This study aimed accurately model impact vegetation on hydrological processes an endorheic river watershed undergoing revegetation, namely, middle lower reaches Bayin River basin, China. A LU-SWAT-MODFLOW was developed by integrating dynamic response units with a coupled SWAT-MODFLOW model, reflect actual land cover changes basin. The outperformed original simulating human activity as well leaf area index, evapotranspiration, groundwater table depth. After evapotranspiration recharge different sub-basins increased significantly. In addition, direction amount surface-water–groundwater exchange changed considerably where revegetation involved converting low-coverage grassland bare forestland.