GENERACIÓN DE CRECIDAS Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA URBANIZACIÓN EN LA SUBCUENCA DEL RÍO VILLALLOBOS

Abstract

The basin of Villalobos River forms the upper part of the river basin Mary Linda, seated part of the capital of the Republic of Guatemala city and outlying municipalities, a region that has experienced a steady increase in population and consequently is its urban areas. The main channel of the subbasin is the Villalobos River, the main tributary of Lake Amatitlán. The research was to quantify the effect associated with urbanization on the water cycle, mainly on components of surface runoff. To estimate the impact on surface runoff hydrograph for the most extreme event raised was modeled, with Tropical Storm Agatha, for the conditions of urbanization in the years 1972 and 2012. The effects on the hydrograph is estimated at maximum flow, surface runoff (total and average), time of concentration, runoff coefficient and flux levels achieved and estimated at Lake Amatitlan promotions. The rise in urban areas over the past 40 years (approximately 22%), has caused significant increases in the components of the hydrograph peak flow and surface runoff mainly decreasing only in the time of concentration.