On constructing limits-of-acceptability in watershed hydrology using decision trees

•Uncertainty bounds obtained by decision trees (DTs) may be used as limits-of-acceptability.•Uncertainty bounds obtained by decision trees (DTs) may account for measurement uncertainty.•A heuristic mathematical proof supports the above assertion for hypothetical large sample case.•Results from some real-world rainfall runoff data are also in agreement.•DTs can be particularly useful for model inference in baseflow dominated and ungauged catchments.