Scenario‐Based Quantification of Sediment Yield for Effective Watershed Management of Tungabhadra Basin Using the Swat Hydrological Model

ABSTRACT Soil erosion and sediment export pose major threats to water quality and reservoir sustainability under a changing climate and land use. This study assessed sediment export in the Tungabhadra watershed, Karnataka, India, from 2001–2024 using SWAT model. Wet years produced high sediment export (20.7–20.9 t/ha/y), while dry years showed lower yields due to sustained groundwater contribution. Future land‐use change scenarios revealed that urbanization and land degradation greatly increased sediment export (up to 47.6 t/ha/y), whereas reforestation, wetland expansion, and sustainable development reduced sediment yield to ∼6 t/ha/y. Results highlight the importance of integrated watershed management for erosion control and climate resilience.