Calibration guide for watershed modeling with distributed groundwater modeling: application for the SWAT+ model

We present a new calibration strategy guide for coupled surface-subsurface hydrologic models. The goal is to reduce bias in environmental modeling and make calibration processes more consistent. The strategy guide enhances model efficiency and accuracy by focusing on changes to channel, soil, landscape, and aquifer properties. This approach is particularly beneficial when simulating important hydrologic features like baseflow and peaks and across different watersheds. Developed using SWAT+ and the new gwflow module in six diverse U.S. watersheds, each with unique hydrologic characteristics, the guide encourages improved calibration through routine use. It addresses specific issues related to the temporal distribution of streamflow and offers a robust method for enhancing model performance across a wide range of hydrologic conditions. By employing parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis, the approach ensures rigorous and objective calibration of SWAT+ and other models that include land, soil, aquifer, and water processes, leading to more accurate hydrologic modeling.