Runoff and sediment prediction models for the small watersheds (7.18 Km2 to 71.68 Km2) of Chambal catchment of Rajasthan were developed in this study considering the geomorphic characteristics of the watersheds. For this purpose the runoff and sediment production rate (SPR) was first made dimensionless by dividing it with the square root of the watershed area. The other parameters were also suitably non-dimensionalized. Multicollinearity among the geomorphic parameters, if not taken care of may lead to misleading results. To do away with this problem the geomorphic parameters were grouped into three uncorrelated, physically significant groups based on their intercorrelation matrix. The dimensionless runoff and SPR factor was regressed on the independent parameters using multiple regression technique to obtain the desired prediction models. The model considering Runoff for prediction of SPR estimates minimum deviation from the observed SPR and it is the best predication model. The developed models can be used to predict the runoff and SPR of ungauged small watersheds of the Chambal catchment.
Catchment, Watershed, Runoff, Sediment
