The Journal of
the Korean Society on Water Environment

The Journal of
the Korean Society on Water Environment

Bimonthly
  • ISSN : 2289-0971 (Print)
  • ISSN : 2289-098X (Online)
  • KCI Accredited Journal

Editorial Office

Title Analysis of Baseflow and Run-off Characteristics in Pungyeongjeong-cheon Watershed Using Baseflow S eparation Method a nd H SPF Model
Authors 최용호(Yong-Ho Choi) ; 정인균(In-Kyun Jeong) ; 주진철(Jin-Cheol Joo) ; 정광욱(Kwang-Wook Jeong)
DOI https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2026.42.4.338
Page pp.338-355
ISSN 2289-0971
Keywords Baseflow; Baseflow index (BFI); Baseflow separation; HSPF
Abstract Pungyeongjeong Stream, located in the Yeongsan River basin, demonstrates distinct land-use characteristics: agricultural areas are found upstream, while industrial and urban development dominate downstream. This study aimed to quantify baseflow contributions for effective stream management by applying a watershed model and assessing a model-based baseflow separation technique. We developed a watershed model (HSPF) to reproduce streamflow and performed baseflow separation, comparing the results with conventional empirical baseflow separation methods. The baseflow index (BFI) revealed that baseflow contributions were relatively higher in the upstream region, whereas surface runoff prevailed downstream due to a greater proportion of impervious surfaces. Increased urbanization led to reduced infiltration and groundwater recharge, resulting in diminished baseflow contributions. The BFI also exhibited notable temporal variability, with lower values in summer and higher values in winter, reflecting Korea's monsoon climate characterized by concentrated summer rainfall. When comparing the results with empirical methods, the model-based approach yielded results most similar to those derived using the Eckhardt method while more effectively capturing temporal variability and high-flow conditions. In contrast, empirical digital filter methods often misrepresented high-flow periods, likely due to their inclusion of slowly draining interflow in the baseflow component. Overall, the model-based baseflow separation approach outperformed conventional methods across various time scales. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for land-use diversity and baseflow dynamics in watershed-scale water management and provide a scientific foundation for enhancing stream water quality management amidst increasing urbanization and climate variability.