Catchments

A catchment is land drained by a particular stream or river and is usually made up of a number of smaller catchments, or sub-catchments. As water from rainfall and irrigation drains off the land it flows into a network of streams, which then flow into larger creeks and rivers, carrying sediments and nutrients in a downstream flow.

Land Use
Research in agricultural and environmental science has shown that soils are a source of nutrient transfer to freshwaters. The extent of this transfer is dependent on factors including soil type and status, land-use type and intensity, fertilisation practices, climate, hydrological regime and catchment scale.

Water Quality
Phosphorus is an essential component of the biological cycle in lakes, rivers and streams. High concentrations of phosphorus can indicate the presence of pollution and lead to eutrophic conditions. Nitrogen is also an essential nutrient in terms of plant growth.

Catchment Modelling
MarCon employ the industry standard SWAT model for catchment modelling, linking it with two dimensional DIVAST estuarine models. We also have experience integrating the UK Environment Agency SIMCAT model with other dynamic estuarine and riverine modelling systems. Most of our catchment modelling is undertaken through a standard GIS platform for manipulation of input variables and visualisation of results.