Price et al. (2026) Process‐Based Hydrologic Model Representations of Non‐Perennial Streamflow in the Pacific Northwest, USA

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Water Resources Research
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Adam N. Price, Kendra E. Kaiser
• DOI: 10.1029/2025wr040626

Research Groups

Not available in the provided abstract.

Short Summary

This study compares four process-based hydrologic models in their ability to represent non-perennial streamflow regimes across 156 streamgages in the Pacific Northwest. The findings indicate that these models largely fail to accurately capture non-perennial streamflow behavior, with simulation skill decreasing in more arid regions, typically underestimating no- and low-flow days while overestimating low-flow magnitudes.

Objective

• To determine what modeled representations of low- and no-flow in non-perennial rivers and streams do well and where uncertainties may lie in the internal representations of hydrologic processes.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 156 streamgages experiencing non-perennial streamflow behavior in the Pacific Northwest.
• Temporal Scale: Not explicitly stated in the provided abstract.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC), Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), National Water Model (NWM) versions 2.1 and 3.0.
• Data sources: Streamflow observations from 156 streamgages (specific data provider not explicitly stated).

Main Results

• Process-based models are largely unable to capture non-perennial streamflow behavior.
• Simulation skill decreases as a function of increasing aridity of a streamgage location.
• Most simulations underestimate the number of no- and low-flow days experienced by a streamgage.
• Most simulations overestimate the magnitude of low-flows.

Contributions

• Highlights critical gaps in the predictive understanding of non-perennial streamflow in the Pacific Northwest.
• Informs the timing and location of future research, management, and conservation efforts related to non-perennial systems.
• Improves the usability of these models for a wider audience of practitioners across various fields.

Funding

Not available in the provided abstract.

Citation

@article{Price2026ProcessBased,
  author = {Price, Adam N. and Kaiser, Kendra E.},
  title = {Process‐Based Hydrologic Model Representations of Non‐Perennial Streamflow in the Pacific Northwest, USA},
  journal = {Water Resources Research},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025wr040626},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025wr040626}
}