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Abstract
Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a continuous simulation model was used to conduct hydrologic analysis, and to predict sediment and nutrient loadings from the Canard River watershed to the Detroit River. The watershed is located within the Essex Region in southern Ontario, and it has been identified as a part of the Area of Concern of the Detroit River for non-point source pollution. The SWAT model was calibrated and tested using daily observed streamflow data. The Nash-Suttcliffe model efficiencies for monthly streamflow predictions were 0.79 and 0.85, respectively during the calibration and testing periods. It was found from the model that on average, 36% of the annual precipitation over the watershed contributed to the streamflow during the five-year period 2001-2005. The northeastern part of the watershed was found to be yielding higher sediment and nutrient loads. Hence these areas are of critical importance for the watershed management.
