Evaluación del riesgo de inundaciones en la microcuenca del río Elvira del cantón Quilanga

Abstract

Abstract: his research evaluates the hydrological and hydraulic behavior of the La Elvira micro watershed, located in the Quilanga canton, Loja province, Ecuador. A two-dimensional model was implemented using HEC-RAS 6.6 software, incorporating peak discharges estimated with HydroVLab for return periods of 25, 50, and 100 years. Hydrological data were verified through manual calculations in Excel to ensure technical consistency. The simulations generated thematic maps of flow depth and velocity, which were used to analyze flood dynamics under various extreme rainfall scenarios. Areas with different levels of flood risk exposure were identified, particularly in the lower sections of the watershed, as well as zones with significant flow velocities in steeper segments. Based on these results, a comprehensive analysis of the hydrological risk in the micro-watershed was carried out, which can inform future strategies for prevention, land use planning, and environmental management. The applied methodology is presented as an accessible, technical, and replicable tool for flood risk assessment in rural watersheds with limited data availability.