Assessment of the Restoration Activities on Water Balance and Water Quality at Last Chance Creek Watershed Using Watershed Environmental Hydrology (WEHY) Model M.L. Kavvas, Z. Q. Chen, M. Anderson, L. Liang, N. Ohara Hydrologic Research Laboratory, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Davis J. Wilcox, L. Mink, T. Benoit Feather River CRM
Feather River Basin Last Chance Creek watershed (Project area) Area = 250.1km 2 Doyle Crossing (outlet of watershed) Sacramento Million $ Bridge
Post-restoration condition (July 29, 2004) The deep gully was filled, and a shallow channel was dug nearby. Pre-restoration condition (May 5, 2002) The deep gully due to instream erosion induces low groundwater level.
Deep gully Fast channel flow Pre-restoration More subsurface water storage Slow channel flow Post-restoration
ISSUES TO ASSESS FOR RESTORATION ACTIVITIES IN THE LAST CHANCE CREEK WATERSHED 1. How does the restoration affect flood flows? 2. How does the restoration affect flows during the summer months? 3. How does the restoration affect the groundwater storage within the watershed? 4. How does the restoration affect sediment discharge from the watershed to downstream?
Use of a Watershed Model in NPS Studies Watershed model provides a tool for watershed evaluation to help protect and restore source areas for water supply and flood control and to reduce NPS substance releases from these areas.
Model can identify source areas (sediment, nutrients, groundwater recharge, runoff) Model can evaluate potential restoration activities for effectiveness at any watershed Model can assess any land use/management scenarios
WEHY (Watershed Environmental Hydrology) Model is a physically-based, spatially-distributed continuous simulation model of hydrologic and environmental processes. It was peer-reviewed and published (Nov/Dec 2004 issue of Journal of Hydrologic Engineering).
INPUT Precipitation Snowfall, Temperature, Wind Speed, Relative Humidity Parameter values related to Topography, Soil, Land Use Land Cover characteristics Rainfall I. HYDROLOGIC MODULE Interception and Evapotranspiration Model II. ENVIRONMENTAL MODULE Hillslope Processes Unsaturated flow and Infiltration Model Solar Radiation + Snow Accumulation + Snowmelt Models Hillslope Erosion/Sediment, and Nutrient Transport Subsurface Stormflow Overland flow (Sheet and Rill Flow) Hillslope Pesticide Transport Hillslope Surface/Subsurface/GW Water Temperature Stream and Regional Groundwater Processes Regional Groundwater In-stream Erosion/Sediment, and Nutrient Transport In-stream Pesticide Transport Stream Network Flow In-stream Temperature Transport OUTPUT Streamflow Hydrograph/profile, GW Table Elev/Hydraulic Head Soil water content, ET, Inf. rates at any desired location within a watershed Water temperature at any desired location within a watershed Sediment and Nutrient load at any desired location within a watershed Pesticide load at any desired location within a watershed
Develop the GIS (Geographical Information System) for the watershed based upon existing databases and build model parameters Area of Detail Elevation (m) 1680-1760 1760-1830 1830-1900 1900-1980 1980-2050 2050-2130 2130-2200 2200-2280 2280-2350 No Data Doyle Crossing 8 0 8 16 Kilometers Stream Sub watershed N W E S
Stream network at Last Chance Creek watershed
Slope map and delineation of meadow land Green: flat land Yellow: steep land (%) 0-5 5-45.64 No Data Stream N W E S
1720 1715 1710 1705 1700 1695 1690 1720 1710 1700 1690 1680 1670 1660 1650 Cross section at outlet of domain G Surface Estimated bedrock 180 200 220 60 80 100 120 140 160 Distanse (m) Cross section at outlet of domain E 40 20 0 Elevation (m) Elevation (m) Groundwater Flow Domain 1710 1700 1690 1680 1670 1660 1650 Cross section near Doyle Crossing Surface Estimated bedrock 0 30 60 450 480 510 540 570 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 Distanse (m) Elevation (m) 0 30 60 420 450 480 510 540 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 570 Surface Estimated bedrock Distanse (m)
Soil database (USFS soil survey) Soil map unit 1 0 5 1 0 8 1 0 9 1 4 3 1 5 7 1 5 8 1 6 0 1 6 1 1 6 4 1 7 0 1 7 2 1 7 4 1 8 3 1 8 4 1 9 1 1 9 2 1 9 3 1 9 9 2 3 1 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 4 2 3 5 2 4 3 2 4 8 2 4 9 2 5 0 2 5 1 2 5 2 2 5 3 2 5 7 2 5 8 2 5 9 2 6 0 2 6 1 2 6 7 2 6 8 2 7 0 2 7 1 2 7 2 2 7 3 2 7 5 2 7 6 2 7 7 2 7 8 2 7 9 2 9 3 2 9 4 3 0 4
Estimated soil parameters for WEHY model over Last Chance Creek watershed (selected) Effective Rooting Depth Mean Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Mean Total Porosity (in) (cm/hr) (cm3/cm3) 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7-0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0 2 4 6 8 11 13 15 17 19 2 4 6 8 11-13 - 15-17 - 19-21 10 20 20 30 40 50-20 20 30 40 50 60
Vegetation Map (USFS) Number of Vegetation Layers 1: Grass & shrub 2: Forest Stream N W E 7 0 7 14 Kilometers S
Precipitation Sun Interception by vegetation Direct Evaporation of Intercepted Water Transpiration of Root Zone Water Through Fall Direct runoff Snowmelt Snow cover Bare Soil Evaporation Infiltration Infiltration Root Zone Groundwater Recharge Groundwater Table Unsaturated Zone
Methodology for evapotranspiration with natural vegetation LAI MYD15 Land Cover MOD12 Statistical Study of LAI (Asner et al, 2003) Statistical Study of Rooting Depth (Zeng, 2001) Historical Atmospheric Data NCEP, MM5 Seasonally varying LAI for each vegetation type Local Vegetation Survey by USFS LAI Plant height, h Rooting Depth, dr Ground Surface Hydrometeorological Condition WEHY Plant Transpiration Coefficient, K cb (LAI, h) (FAO, 1998) Reference Evapotranspiration, ET o Bare Ground Evaporation Evapotranspiration
Estimated monthly LAI based on local vegetation survey and MODIS data Leaf Area Index 0-0.5 0.5-1 1-1.5 1.5-1.8 1.8-2.2 2.2-2.7 2.7-3.3 3.3-10
RECONSTRUCTION OF HISTORICAL ATMOSPHERIC DATA OVER THE WATERSHED AT 9 KM RESOLUTION BY DOWNSCALING FROM COARSE RESOLUTION (~280KM) GLOBAL DATASETS
MM5 Domain Nesting for Last Chance Creek Watershed Model
Reconstructing distributed atmospheric data for validation and for critical hydrologic periods Air Temperature MM5 NCDC Quincy 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. 0 Oct-82 Apr-83 Oct-83 Apr-84 Oct-84 Apr-85 Oct-85 Apr-86 Oct-86 Apr-87 Oct-87 Apr-88 Oct-88 Apr-89 Oct-89 Apr-90 Oct-90 Apr-91 Oct-91 Apr-92 Oct-92 Apr-93 Oct-93 Temperature (deg F) Precipitation 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Date MM5 Quincy Quincy Quincy Precip (mm) Oct-82 Apr-83 Oct-83 Apr-84 Oct-84 Apr-85 Oct-85 Apr-86 Oct-86 Apr-87 Oct-87 Apr-88 Oct-88 Apr-89 Oct-89 Apr-90 Oct-90 Apr-91 Oct-91 Apr-92 Oct-92 Apr-93 Date
Snow module to simulate accumulation and melt processes of snow 0.70 0.60 Simulated snow depth at Doyle Xing Observed snow depth at Doyle Xing Snow depth (m) 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0.00 9/30 10/20 11/9 11/29 12/19 1/8 1/28 Date (2003-04) 2/17 3/8 3/28 4/17 5/7 5/27 6/16
Monitored Data Collected for Model Validation elevation (feet) 5812 5810 5808 5806 5804 5802 5800 Oct. 29, 2001 Oct. 25, 2004 Cross-section JF4 Post-restoration Pre-restoration 5798 5796 Original channel 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 distance from left pin (feet) 1815 1814 RC4-2 RC5-2 meter 1813 1812 1811 1810 Jul-01 Jan-02 Jul-02 Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04
Local Groundwater Simulation at Rowland-Charles Reach (Oct 1, 2001 Sep 30, 2004) Local groundwater simulation domain Observed Groundwater Table Simulated Groundwater Table Ground Surface
Feather River Basin Last Chance Creek watershed (Project area) Area = 250.1km 2 Doyle Crossing (outlet of watershed) Sacramento Million $ Bridge
Simulated Hydrological Conditions Water Year 10/2003-9/2004 Q peak = 4.2 m 3 /s Stream Flow at Doyle Cross Bridge (basin outlet) Contribution to Stream flow
Estimated soil parameters for WEHY model over Last Chance Creek watershed (selected) Effective Rooting Depth Mean Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Mean Total Porosity (in) (cm/hr) (cm3/cm3) 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7-0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0 2 4 6 8 11 13 15 17 19 2 4 6 8 11-13 - 15-17 - 19-21 10 20 20 30 40 50-20 20 30 40 50 60
Comparison of model simulated and observed runoff at Doyle Crossing for Pre-restoration condition (Oct. 2001 - Sep.2002) and Post-restoration condition (Oct. 2004 - Sep.2005) Daily average flow (cms) 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 Pre-restoration (2001-2002) Simulated Observed Daily average flow (cms) 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 10/1 1 11/1 1 12/1 1 1/1 1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 Date (2001-02) Post-restoration (2004-2005) 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/1 Simulated Observed 10/1 11/1 12/1 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 Date (2004-05) 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/1
Comparison of model simulated and observed sediment load at Doyle Crossing for post-restoration condition (Oct. 2004 - Sep. 2005) 0.7 Sediment load (kg/s) 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 simulated observed 0.0 10/2 11/1 12/1 12/31 1/30 3/1 3/31 Date (2004-05) 4/30 5/30 6/29
ASSESSMENT OF RESTORATION ACTIVITIES IN LAST CHANCE CREEK WATERSHED FOR TWO SCENARIOS: 1) PRE-RESTORATION CONDITION; 2) POST-RESTORATION CONDITION, under the same atmospheric inputs corresponding to wet water year (Oct. 1982- Sep. 1983) ARE SIMULATED AND COMPARED.
Comparison of flow discharge at Doyle Crossing between the pre-restoration and postrestoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983) 50.0 40.0 Pre-restoration Post-restoration discharge (cms) 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 10/1 10/30 11/29 12/29 1/28 2/27 3/29 4/28 5/28 6/27 7/27 8/26 9/25 Date (1982-83)
Comparison of monthly flow at Doyle Crossing between pre-restoration and post-restoration conditions (Oct. 1982 - Sep. 1983) 30000 25000 Pre-restoration Post-restoration flow(acre-ft) 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Month
Assessment of restoration activities: Monthly Flow at the Doyle Crossing (Oct.1982-Sep.1983) 32.7% reduction of flow in March (wet month) may be expected, and 85.8% increase of flow in September (dry month) may be expected because of the restoration.
Comparison of monthly mean groundwater storage between the pre-restoration and post-restoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983) Pre-restoration Post-restoration Groundwater stora age (ac-ft) Thousands 239 238 237 236 235 234 233 232 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Month (1982-83)
Comparison of sediment load at Doyle Crossing between the pre-restoration and postrestoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983 ) 40.0 sediment load (kg/s) 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 Pre-restoration Post-restoration 5.0 0.0 10/1 10/30 11/29 12/29 1/28 2/27 3/29 4/28 5/28 6/27 7/27 8/26 9/25 Date (1982-83)
Comparison of monthly sediment load at Doyle Crossing between the pre-restoration and post-restoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983) 3000 2500 Pre-restoration Post-restoration sediment load (t/ /mon) 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Month
Assessment of restoration activities: Monthly Sediment load at the Doyle Crossing (Oct.82-Sep.83) Prerestoration (t) Postrestoration (t) absolute diff (t) relative diff (%) Oct 0.2 0.2 0.0-0.59 Nov 2.1 2.1 0.0-2.02 Dec 53.7 53.0-0.7-1.37 Jan 85.6 73.2-12.4-14.45 Feb 585.3 442.0-143.3-24.49 Mar 2687.2 2186.4-500.8-18.64 Apr 489.1 406.2-82.9-16.94 May 199.5 191.1-8.4-4.19 Jun 48.9 55.6 6.7 13.62 Jul 7.2 11.4 4.3 59.24 Aug 11.8 15.3 3.5 29.74 Sep 2.7 6.2 3.5 133.46 Annual 4173.3 3442.8-730.5-17.50 17.5% reduction of annual sediment discharge may be expected because of the restoration.
Conclusions 1. WEHY (Watershed Environmental Hydrology) Model has been applied to the Last Chance Creek Watershed for the Assessment of the Impact of Restoration Activities on the Water Supply/Flood Control/NPS Pollutant Discharge; 2. WEHY Model demonstrated that restoration activities in Last Chance Creek will store more water during wet periods (reducing flood discharge) while increasing base flows during dry periods; groundwater storage in the watershed will increase by the restoration activities;
3. WEHY Model also demonstrated that the undertaken restoration activities will reduce the sediment discharge from Last Chance Creek watershed. 4. WEHY Model can be applied to any watershed in California for the assessment of restoration activities. Acknowledgement: This study was funded by CALFED Watershed Program.