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Geomorphology and hydrologic response of the Curucutí Creek catchment, Vargas State, Venezuela

Abstract:

The Curucutí Creek catchment is located on the north slope of the Ávila Massif (10°33'08"-10°36'23" LN and 66°57'38"- 66°59'14" LW), in the central western part of Vargas State (Venezuela). This system was one of the catchments that were hydrologically and morphodynamically activated in response to the extreme rains that occurred in December 1999 on the Venezuela Central Littoral. The purpose of this work is to analyze the control of the morphometric parameters of the catchment and drainage network on the features of the hydrologic response. Methodology consisted of: (a) calculations and measures of the morphometric parameters, (b) calculation of concentration time, and (c) estimate of the unit hydrographs and flood peak discharges. The Curucutí Creek catchment is a hydrogeomorphological system whose hydrologic response is determined by a small catchment area, hillsides and channels on the mountainous area with steep slopes, medium drainage density, a drainage network of the 5th order, medium bifurcation relation of 3.73, high torrentiality, storm size and intensity and duration of the rains. The short concentration times, the flood peak discharges and the unit hydrographs corroborate the influence of the catchment's morphometry and the drainage network structure on the fast and violent responses of system. These define flood critical stages for events of return periods of 50, 100 and 500 years mainly, and for 1000 years if the worst comes to the worst, for rains that last 1 hour.