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DEVELOPMENT OF MODELING PROTOCOLS FOR USE IN DETERMINING SEDIMENT TMDLS
Citation:
Hayter, E J. DEVELOPMENT OF MODELING PROTOCOLS FOR USE IN DETERMINING SEDIMENT TMDLS. Presented at Science Forum 2003, Washington, DC, May 5-7, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
This research task will develop modeling approaches and protocols for developing sediment TMDLs for in-stream and watershed (i.e., land surface) processes, and will eventually produce a model of stream and watershed geomorphology. General goals to accomplish this objective are the following:
1. Develop watershed-based modeling systems to forecast the effectiveness of alternative management plans in meeting sediment-related criteria and standards based on appropriate biological endpoints; and
2. Develop and maintain a comprehensive technical support capability that directly links sediment TMDL exposure research activities and products for the EPA Office of Water, EPA Regional Offices, and the States to be used for implementation of policy, regulatory development, remediation, and enforcement needs.
Description:
Modeling protocols for use in determining sediment TMDLs are being developed to provide the Office of Water, Regions and the States with assistance in determining TMDLs for sediment impaired water bodies. These protocols will supplement the protocols developed by the Office of Water (U.S. EPA 1999) for determining sediment TMDLs. Specifically, the modeling protocols will provide additional guidance in determining sediment TMDLs for cases where a numerical model must be used to simulate sediment transport and fate to quantify the impacts of proposed BMPs, etc. in reducing the detrimental effects of clean sediments on the impaired body of water. These protocols will describe the following: criteria for deciding when a sediment transport model should be used in developing a sediment TMDL; criteria for choosing the appropriate sediment transport and fate model to use for a given impaired water body; procedures to use for performing both model calibration and confirmation; data requirements for the recommended model; and recommended procedures for collecting/measuring the required data. Also included in the modeling protocols will be the testing of new sediment transport and fate models using an extensive data set collected on a 12-mile reach of the Housatonic River in western Massachusetts. The new models to be tested are EFDC-1D, GSTARS2c, CSED-2D (ver. 2.0), and EFDC. The modeling protocols along with the new sediment transport and fate models (and the supporting documentation and post-processors) will be given to the Office of Water for review and distribution to the Regions and States. It is anticipated that the results from this research will be useful to the Office of Water, the Regions and States in evaluating the effectiveness of proposed BMPs in reducing the detrimental impact of clean sediments on the nation's streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries.