Comparison of two watershed models for addressing stakeholder flood mitigation strategies: Case study of Hurricane Alex in Monterrey, México

Extreme flooding in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, México has led to an interest from local stakeholders in potential mitigation strategies in the Santa Catarina watershed. The authors analyze a set of hydraulic infrastructure options using two hydrologic models of varying complexity in the context of a major flood caused by the landfall of Hurricane Alex in 2010. A consistent approach was used to provide terrain, soil, vegetation, and meteorological data to each model-hydrological modeling system (HEC-HMS), and triangulated irregular network (TIN)-based real-time integrated basin simulator (tRIBS)-and to test the models with streamflow and water level observations. Simulation analyses focus on the differential ability of the two models in capturing precipitation and watershed properties and its effects on the hydrologic response in the presence of hydraulic infrastructure options. A scenario with a single, large dam reduced the flood peak more favorably than three smaller structures. The model comparison is effective in addressing stakeholder-driven mitigation strategies and revealing the added value of spatially-distributed approaches.