Grantee Research Project Results
2005 Progress Report: Evaluation of Hydrologic Models for Alternative Covers at Mine Waste Sites
EPA Grant Number: R829515C007Subproject: this is subproject number 007 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829515
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Human Models for Analysis of Pathways (H MAPs) Center
Center Director: Murphy, William L
Title: Evaluation of Hydrologic Models for Alternative Covers at Mine Waste Sites
Investigators: Shackelford, Charles D. , Benson, Craig H.
Institution: Colorado State University , University of Wisconsin - Madison
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2005
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The overall objective of this research project is to evaluate the accuracy of five different hydrologic models (HELP, UNSAT-H, VADOSE/W, HYDRUS-2D, and LEACHM) commonly used for the design of cover systems using high-quality field data from large-scale test facilities of alternative covers, to develop an improved, easy-to-use, and field-verified model for long-term assessment of alternative covers at a variety of sites and climatic conditions. The specific objectives of this research project are to: (1) assess and compare the algorithms in existing hydrologic models when applied to a variety of meteorological conditions; (2) perform an unbiased, critical assessment of the predictive capabilities of existing hydrologic model (or models) that has the most promise, so that predictions made with the model are accurate; and (3) incorporate additional algorithms in the model that can be used to assess the impact of long-term processes such as plant secession, pedogenesis, and climatic change.
Progress Summary:
Simulations using the VADOSE/W model with the same input data have been performed at both the University of Wisconsin and Colorado State University to assess the consistency in the results. The comparison of output results include volumetric water content as well as water balance mechanisms such as cumulative runoff, cumulative precipitation, cumulative surface evaporation, cumulative storage, and cumulative water balance. Comparison of simulation results with field data also have been made among predictions from HYDRUS-2D, UNSAT-H, VADOSE/W, and LEACHM with field data from field sites. Finally, systematic evaluations of input parameters using each of the models to assess the relative impact (i.e., high, modest, low) on the water balance predictions also has been performed. Similar sensitivity analyses have been performed to date primarily with the UNSAT-H and HYDRUS-2D models on all components of the water balance (soil water storage, surface runoff, evapotranspiration, and percolation) for a limited number of sites. Additional simulations have been performed to evaluate the lower (outflow) boundary condition (LBC) used in the simulations. For example, a seepage face LBC has been recommended in the literature and typically used in practice, but the results of our simulations to date suggest that a unit gradient LBC may provide better correlations with field data and more conservative predictions.
Future Activities:
All activities have been completed except for comparison model simulations using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s HELP model. These model simulations are expected to be conducted during Year 5 of the Center’s activities. In addition, several journal manuscripts based on the results of the study currently are being prepared for anticipated submission during the next year.
Supplemental Keywords:
acid mine runoff, acid mine drainage, alternative covers, contaminated aquifers, groundwater pollution, heavy metal contamination, hydrogeology, mining, mining wastes, waste treatment,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Industry Sectors, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Waste, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Hazardous, Remediation, Restoration, Ecological Risk Assessment, Waste Treatment, Atmosphere, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Groundwater remediation, Hazardous Waste, Air Pollution Effects, Geology, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Mining - NAIC 21, climate change, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, Risk Assessment, heavy metals, contaminant transport, bioavailability, mining, acid mine drainage, treatment, acid mine discharge, geochemistry, restoration strategies, water quality, contaminated aquifers, mining wastes, leaching of toxic metals, alternative covers, aquatic ecosystem, contaminated groundwater, hydrology, remediation technologies, acid mine runoff, monitoring, contaminated sites, mining waste, groundwater hydrology models, extraction of metals, hydrogeology, ecological indicators, contaminated waste sites, aquatic ecosystems, groundwater pollution, metals, heavy metal contamination, aquatic toxicology, stream ecosystem, ecological recoveryRelevant Websites:
http://www.engr.colostate.edu/hsrc/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R829515 Human Models for Analysis of Pathways (H MAPs) Center Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829515C001 Redox Transformations, Complexation and Soil/Sediment
Interactions of Inorganic Forms of As and Se in Aquatic Environments: Effects
of Natural Organic Matter
R829515C002 Fate and Transport of Metals and Sediment in Surface Water
R829515C003 Metal Removal Capabilities of Passive Bioreactor Systems: Effects of Organic Matter and Microbial Population Dynamics
R829515C004 Evaluating Recovery of Stream Ecosystems from Mining Pollution:
Integrating Biochemical, Population, Community and Ecosystem Indicators
R829515C005 Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center
Training and Technology Transfer Program
R829515C006 Technical Outreach Services for Communities and Technical Assistance to Brownfields
R829515C007 Evaluation of Hydrologic Models for Alternative Covers at Mine Waste Sites
R829515C008 Microbial Reduction of Uranium in Mine Leachate by Fermentative and Iron-Reducing Bacteria
R829515C009 Development and Characterization of Microbial Inocula for High-Performance Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C010 Reactive Transport Modeling of Metal Removal From Anaerobic Biozones
R829515C011 Assessment of Electrokinetic Injection of Amendments for Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C012 Metal Toxicity Thresholds for Important Reclamation Plant Species of the Rocky Mountains
R829515C013 An Improved Method for Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Mining Impacted Streams
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.