22 research outputs found

    Upper Spokane River Model: Boundary Conditions and Model Setup, 1991 and 2000

    Get PDF
    The Washington Department of Ecology is interested in a water quality model for the Upper Spokane River system for use in developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The goals of this modeling effort are to: • Gather data to construct a computer simulation model of the Spokane River system including Long Lake Reservoir and the pools behind Nine Mile dam, Upper Falls dam and Upriver dam • Ensure that the model accurately represents the system hydrodynamics and water quality (flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen and nutrient dynamics) A hydrodynamic and water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3 (Wells, 1997), is being applied to model the Spokane River system. CE-QUAL-W2 is a two dimensional (longitudinal-vertical), laterally averaged, hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been under development by the Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiments Station (Cole and Wells, 2000). In order to model the system, the following data were required: • Spokane River flow, water level and water quality data at the upstream system boundary (the State of Idaho boundary) • Tributary inflows and water quality • Meteorological conditions • Bathymetry of the Spokane River, the dam pools along the river, and Long Lake Reservoir • Point source (wastewater treatment plants, WWTPs) inflows and water quality characteristics Data have been primarily collected from 1991 to 1992 and again during 2000. This report summarizes the data used in the modeling effort

    Lower Willamette River Model: Boundary Conditions and Model Setup

    Get PDF
    Water Environment Services of Clackamas County is in the process of planning upgrades on several of its sewage treatment plants which discharge into the Lower Willamette River. The goals of the modeling effort are to: • Gather data to construct a computer simulation model of the Lower Willamette River system including part of the Lower Columbia River and the Willamette River above the Oregon City Falls; Because of the tidal influence in the Lower Willamette River, portions of the Columbia River that might affect the Lower Willamette River water quality were also modeled. Also, a section of the Willamette River above the head of tide, the Oregon City Falls, was modeled because of the lack of good boundary condition data at the Falls. • Ensure that the model accurately represents the system physics and chemistry (flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen and nutrient dynamics); • Use the model to evaluate how to meet various future discharge scenarios for the sewage district. A hydrodynamic and water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3 (Wells, 1997), is being applied to model the Willamette-Columbia system. CE-QUAL-W2 is a two dimensional (longitudinal-vertical), laterally averaged, hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been under development by the Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiments Station (Cole and Wells, 2000). In order to model the system, the following data were required: • Willamette and Columbia River flow, water level and water quality data • Tributary inflows and water quality • Meteorological conditions • Bathymetry of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and several side channels • Point source inflows and water quality characteristics Many local, state and federal agencies have been collecting data in the Lower Willamette and Columbia Rivers. This report summarizes data used in the modeling effort

    Willamette River Basin Temperature TMDL Model: Model Scenarios

    Get PDF
    The State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is developing a TMDL for temperature in the Willamette River basin shown in Figure 1. The study area included the Willamette River and all major tributaries (except the Tualatin River where a TMDL process was already concluded). A large section of the Columbia River was also modeled to provide adequate boundary representation of tidal flows in the lower Willamette River. The Willamette River below the Oregon City Falls in the Portland metropolitan area has a typical diurnal tidal range of 1 m. The development of a dynamic model of temperature and hydrodynamics of the entire river basin incorporating shading were primary requirements of this modeling study. The model would be used by DEQ to set temperature limits on point source dischargers and to evaluate the impact of management strategies on river temperatures to improve fish habitat. Some of these strategies included modifications of the dam at the Willamette River Falls south of Portland and channel reconfigurations. Once the models were set-up for each section of the Willamette basin, the model was calibrated to field data and management strategies were evaluated. These are the subjects of two other reports: Annear et al. (2004) and Berger et al. (2004). This report outlines the results of implementing model scenarios for each of the model sections or elements for specific time periods. The model scenario simulation periods used to investigate management scenarios required boundary condition data that extended past the model calibration periods. The model simulation period for year 2001 was from June 1 to October 31 and for year 2002 from April 1 to October 31

    Waldo Lake Research in 2003

    Get PDF
    This report summarizes the first year of an effort to develop a more complete understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that drive the ecological processes of Waldo Lake. Modern limnology recognizes the importance of watershed processes as well as in- lake processes in lake ecosystem functioning. Therefore, the approach included consideration of watershed hydrology and forcing functions that determine hydrodynamics of the system as well physical and chemical factors that may be important in regulating primary production in the lake. Data collected since 1998 was summarized and bathymetry of the basin was mapped using state-of-the-art digital depth sounding and GPS technology. A hypothesis that UV light may play an important role in regulating phytoplankton efficiency was examined in an effort to move toward more hypothesis-driven investigations to elucidate the factors controlling productivity. A Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan was developed to guide data collection for long-term monitoring of the lake. Lastly, initial steps were made in the development of a model of lake hydrodynamics and primary production to aid in integration of the physical, chemical, and biological data that has been collected on the lake

    Waldo Lake Research in 2004

    Get PDF
    The Willamette National Forest has worked with Portland State University, Center for Lakes and Reservoirs (PSU) and the University of Oregon (UO) to investigate ecosystem changes, provide guidance on long-term monitoring methods, assess monitoring data, develop predictive water quality models, and conduct research that will lead to better protection and understanding of the Waldo Lake ecosystem. This report summarizes the second year of collaborative PSU-UO research at Waldo Lake. Research has focused on understanding physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Waldo Lake across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Research tasks that continued from 2003 into 2004 included temperature monitoring, hydrodynamic and water quality model development, climate and hydrological forcing scenario investigation, bathymetric map refinement, and analysis of phytoplankton and zooplankton community changes. Research tasks initiated in 2004 included evaluation of wavelength-specific light attenuation, diel phytoplankton and zooplankton vertical distribution patterns, phytoplankton photoinhibition and photoprotection, and the role of mixotrophy in the pelagic microbial food web. Preliminary efforts were made to characterize Waldo Lake benthos through assessment of algal species diversity and chemical composition of the benthic community, as very little is currently known about the Waldo Lake benthic ecosystem. In addition, an attempt was made to map benthic substrate types through reinterpretation of data collected during the 2003 bathymetric survey

    The Bull Run River–Reservoir System Model

    Get PDF
    The Bull Run watershed is located 41.8 kilometers east of Portland, Oregon in the Mt. Hood National Forest and consists of two reservoirs supplying drinking water to over 840,000 people in the Portland metropolitan area. In March 1998 Steelhead and Spring Chinook were listed as threatened in the Lower Columbia basin under the Endangered Species Act. Historical reservoir operations during the summer released no water downstream resulting in stream temperatures exceeding the state water quality standard for salmonids. CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3 is a two-dimensional water quality and hydrodynamic model capable of modeling watersheds with interconnected rivers, reservoirs and estuaries. CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3 was used to model temperature in the reservoirs and river to investigate management strategies to meet water demand and fish habitat requirements. Management strategies evaluated included adding selective withdrawal, increasing reservoir size, constructing a new water supply reservoir, and altering selective withdrawal operations from historical patterns

    Upper Spokane River Model: Model Calibration, 2001

    Get PDF
    The Upper Spokane River system under consideration is located in the Northeastern part of Washington State and runs from the Stateline with Idaho, River mile (RM) 96.0, downstream to Long Lake dam at RM 32.5. Figure 1 shows the river system and an outline the boundaries of the City of Spokane. The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is interested in a water quality model for the Upper Spokane River system for use in developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). As a result, Ecology and the Corps of Engineers funded a study to develop a water quality and hydrodynamic model of the Spokane River system for the years 1991 and 2000. Since the City of Spokane and other point dischargers to the Spokane River have taken considerable field data in the Spokane River system during 2001, the City of Spokane funded this study primarily to: • Continue the development of the Spokane River model for the year 2001, and • Ensure that the model retains its calibration for the year 2001 A hydrodynamic and water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3 (Wells, 1997), was applied to the Spokane River system for the years 1991 and 2000. CE-QUAL-W2 is a two dimensional (longitudinalvertical), laterally averaged, hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been under development by the Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiments Station (Cole and Wells, 2000). This report evaluates the 2001 model calibration and discusses issues relative to that calibration effort. The calibration effort focused on model predictions of hydrodynamics (flow and water level), temperature, and eutrophication model parameters (such as nutrients, algae, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, coliform). The model calibration period was from March 15, 2001 to October 31, 2001

    Pend Oreille River Model: Model Scenario Simulations

    Get PDF
    The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is interested in developing a temperature and water quality Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocation for the Pend Oreille River between the Long Bridge near the historical Lake Pend Oreille outlet and Albeni Falls Dam (U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s reservoir) as shown in Figure 1. This management scenario report is an update of a prior report. The management scenarios had to be rerun because of a modeling error made with the outflows rate of Albeni Falls Dam. The new calibration error statistics were compared with the old statistics in Appendix B: Model Calibration Statistics. The model error for vertical profiles was slightly improved while the error for continuous temperature data was approximately the same
    corecore