Development of Lower Rio Grande River Water Quality Transportation Numerical Model for Bi-National River Management

Traditionally, water quality modelling has focused on modelling individual water bodies. However, water quality management problems must be analyzed at the larger scale to include influences from various water bodies that are interconnected. This paper provides a study on the hydrologic and quality transportation calculation by developing a hydrodynamic (unsteady state) channel routing model using a water-balanced approach. A one dimension Lagrangian river model was developed and applied to the 210 plus miles for the lower Rio Grande River Basin from the Falcon Dam to the head water of Brownsville that pours onto the Gulf of Mexico. This model can provide insight of on management options that can identify improvements of watershed health, flood potential, and agricultural impact of the Lower Rio Grande. The results of the modeling study exhibited variable responses of analysis of quality and temporal water transportation can assess the impact of seasonal changes within that water and their effect on possible contaminants. The resulting simulations can provide better management options that can reduce the impact of the agro-environment and wastewater effluents within the river for a better sustainable future