Amanda Howell Water Protection Division Region 4 EPA Atlanta, GA

Transcription

1 Amanda Howell Water Protection Division Region 4 EPA Atlanta, GA

2 What is a Model? A model is a set of mathematical equations that describe our understanding of a natural phenomenon Image by pxhere.com is licensed under CC Models are approximations of reality and are limited by our knowledge of the system Total Actual ET ET 2 Rainfall Rainfall Snowmelt CEPSC Interception Storage INFILT Model Input Transfer ET Loss Overland Flow Flow Decision Storage Output SLSUR LSUR NSUR Nutrient models are used to predict the impact of nutrient loads to a receiving waterbody LZETP Lower Lower Zone Zone Storage LZSN DEEPFR AGWETP Deep Deep or or Inactive Groundwater Upper Upper Zone Zone Storage UZSN Groundwater Storage BASETP INTFW Interflow AGWRC IRC Stream Stanford Model

3 Why Model? Current land and waste management practices have increased the nutrient loads to our rivers and streams causing unwanted algae blooms which are harmful to wildlife and human health. Due to the complexity of the problem, models are increasingly be used to support regulatory decisions.

4 EPA Region 4 Water Quality Modeling Team Tim Wool Region 4 Modeling Group Team Lead & Lead Water Quality Modeler. Started working and developing WASP in Glenn Fernandez - Region 4 Lead Watershed Modeler. Develops Hydrology and WQ Assessment Tools for Region 4. Co-Leads the watershed modeling trainings for R4 states. Amanda Howell Region 4 Senior Modeler. Regional STORET/WQX coordinator. Co- Leads the watershed modeling trainings for R4 states. John Davis Region 4 Staff Modeler. Previously worked at the Office of Research and Development in Athens, GA.

5 Overview of Nutrient Modeling in Region 4 Whole Watershed Approach Linked Models Watershed Hydrodynamic Water Quality Multi-Year Continuous Simulation 6 10 Years Varying Meteorological Conditions Models are Used For: TMDL Load Calculations NPDES Permit Limits Numeric Nutrient Criteria Watershed Boundary Conditions One directional data exchange Hydrodynamic Water Quality Hydrodynamic exchange HYD file

6 What s the Problem? States do not have the technical expertise in-house to develop or updated nutrient models. Nutrient models are developed by contractors used once and then shelved. States are the regulatory agency on most clean water issues and need to fully understand the tools used to make regulatory decisions.

7 Environmental Impact Inefficient use of limited resources Delayed regulatory decisions Environmental Inaction $ Developed models are only used once and not maintained $ Contracted models are expensive and states could save money by developing models in-house Decisions makers cannot proceed without clear and current information Limited protection & restoration efforts

8 EPA Region 4 Solutions 1. Modeling Tool Development Developed a watershed model building tool with GIS functionality Developed spreadsheet tools to help with data processing Created a systematic method to link watershed and water quality models 2. Design a Free Training Course on the EPA Region 4 Modeling Approach for State Modelers Five 2-hr webinars with follow-up homework examples to practice after each webinar Concluding with on-site 3-day training session

9 How is this Training Different? The state selects a watershed for the working example Addresses the whole modeling process Multiple models and development tools are covered

10 EPA Region 4 Training Goal Complete an initial set-up of a watershed model and linked water quality model on a Priority Watershed. Training Overview 1. Build a GIS Project 2. Process Weather Data 3. Introduction to Database/Data Management 4. Discussion about Point Source Characterization in Models 5. Build watershed model using default parameters and a GIS project 6. Build initial water quality model 7. Link watershed model and point source data into water quality model using database

11 EPA Region 4 Training Models and Modeling Tools Modeling Programs LSPC Loading Simulation Program C++ WASP Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program Modeling Tools BASINS Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources LPSC Builder LPSC Post-Processor WASP Builder Auto Delineation Meteorological Generation WDM Watershed Data Management Database SARA Timeseries Utility WDM WRDB Water Resources Database WRDB Graph Excel Spreadsheets Weather Processing Tools LSPC to WASP Linkage Point Source Tool

12 Watershed Models Input Data Needs Source: BASINS Processing Tools: BASINS Auto Delineation & LSPC Builder Landuse Coverage NLCD Landuse and Impervious Cover State Coverage Soils Coverage SSURGO Soil Survey Geographic STATSGO State Soil Geographic Digital Elevation NHDPlus National Hydrography Dataset LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging Stream-River Network NHDPlus Special Studies

13 Water Quality Models Receiving Waters Input Data Needs Sources: Watershed Model & BASINS Processing Tools: BASINS Wasp Builder, LPSC to WASP Spreadsheet & WRDB Hydrography NHD Plus Flow Data Watershed Model Boundary Data Watershed Model

14 Meteorological Data Input Data Needs Processing Tools: BASINS, SARA, WDM, & Weather Spreadsheet Tools Hourly Rainfall, Solar Radiation, Air Temperature, Wind Speed, Dew Point, Cloud Cover, Potential Evapotranspiration Sources BASINS NOAA National Centers of Environmental Information (NCDC and GHCN weather stations) NLDAS North American Land Data Assimilation System Research or Agro-meteorological Stations

15 Watershed and Water Quality Models Calibration Data Needs Sources: BASINS, WRDB & State Databases Processing Tools: BASINS LSPC Post-Processor & WRDB Graph Flow Data USGS Gage Network Water Quality Data Water Quality Data Portal NWIS & STORET State Databases Special Studies/Stakeholders

16 The Hardest Part of Modeling isn t Modeling! Approximately 70-80% of the work is getting the data into the model Weather Data Point Source Characterization Physical Characteristics of Watershed File Management Numerous documents can be associated with each model Human Error Working as a team helps with QA/QC

17 EPA Region 4 Water Quality Modeling Team Future Plans Reconnect with Region 4 states after training completed. Modeling expertise can not be created with one webinar series. Open dialog with Region 4 States regarding additional training/model supporting needs. Increase our expertise on additional models and tools. Expand training to states and EPA regional offices outside of Region 4.

18 Additional Training Opportunities EPA Region 4 hosts a free week-long WASP training course every summer. EPA HQ formed the Water Quality Modeling Workgroup in 2013 to facilitate collaboration among EPA and state employees who are using water quality models for Clean Water Act regulatory purposes, primarily in the TMDL and Water Quality Standards Programs.

19 US EPA Disclaimer Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for presentation, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

20 Questions?