Evaluation of Coupled Hydrological–Hydrodynamic Scheme Applicability Under Reservoir Regulation in the Huai River Basin

Accurate flood simulation in regulated, low-lying river basins is crucial for forecasting and risk mitigation, but performance depends strongly on whether models represent floodplain hydrodynamics and human regulation. This study evaluates three coupled hydrological–hydrodynamic schemes in the Huai River Basin upstream of Bengbu Station using identical meteorological forcing and VIC-generated runoff: (I) a linear routing scheme (VIC–Routing), (II) a natural hydrodynamic scheme (VIC–CaMa-Flood), and (III) an extended hydrodynamic scheme that incorporates reservoir regulation and levee effects (VIC–CaMa-Flood with Dam). Results reveal clear spatial differences in scheme suitability. The linear routing scheme performs best in upstream reaches, with NSE and KGE generally exceeding 0.81, but tends to overestimate peak discharge in downstream lowland sections. Incorporating hydrodynamic processes and regulation representation further reduces peak flow bias. Scheme III achieves the most consistent downstream improvement, particularly for high flows (>2000 m3/s), with NSE exceeding 0.80 in long-term simulations and improved agreement with satellite-driven inundation patterns. However, simplified reservoir operating rules can increase uncertainty in water level dynamics. During the 2020 plum rain flood, Scheme II yielded more accurate water levels in some reaches, suggesting that generalized operation rules may introduce compensating errors even when discharge accuracy improves. Overall, reliable flood simulation in well-managed basins requires an explicit representation of both floodplain hydrodynamics and regulation, and scheme selection should be guided by the dominant controls along the river network.