How to properly burn the river shapefile in ArcSWAT

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ana corrochano

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Aug 22, 2024, 9:31:24 AM8/22/24
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Hello everyone,

I am setting up my model using ArcSWAT and encountered an issue. I used the river shapefile for my catchment area to burn it (see attached river.PNG). However, when I checked the reach shapefile produced by ArcSWAT (reach.png), the main channel, which is highlighted in both files, is missing in the newly generated reach shapefile.

Could anyone advise on how to properly represent the main channel in my catchment area?

reach.PNG
river.PNG

Jim Almendinger

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Aug 22, 2024, 11:14:02 AM8/22/24
to ana corrochano, ArcSWAT
Your river shapefile has a too-complicated geometry, with loops and interconnections that will confuse the reach delineation process.  I would advise you to manually edit the river shapefile to choose the main channels (deleting any functionally stagnant connecting branches with little flow) and create a simply connected network.  SWAT is going to expect one reach per subbasin -- it will not handle a river that splits into two channels and comes back together.  Channel (reach) delineation algorithms will expect the river to branch in the upstream direction -- not in the downstream direction.  Stick to the main channels. 

Cheers,
-- Jim


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ana corrochano

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Aug 29, 2024, 11:07:02 AM8/29/24
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Thank you Jim!
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