Development of a Linked Hydrodynamic – Sediment

Transport – Water Quality Model for the Lower Maumee River and

Western Lake Erie Basin

Joseph DePinto, Todd Redder, Ed Verhamme, Jeremy Grush, Ric McCulloch

LimnoTech Ann Arbor, MI

Funded by USACE-Buffalo District through sub-contract to Ecology &

Environment, Buffalo, NY

516(e) Program Meeting Ann Arbor, MI (May 18, 2011)

Presentation Outline

Project Background & Objectives

Overview of Model Development

Model Calibration:

Sediment Transport

Water Quality / Eutrophication

Model Application Results:

Sediment Transport

Water Quality / Eutrophication

Project Background

Maumee Bay / Toledo Harbor dredging: Annual volume: ~640,000 yd3 (2004-08)

– ~70% to open lake disposal

Annual cost: ~$5 million Major sediment “sources”:

Maumee River Wind-wave resuspension

Need for linked watershed-receiving water model to support comprehensive system management planning: Sediment management Nearshore water quality management (GLRI) Navigation Coastal erosion Flood control

Harmful Algal Blooms and Nuisance Benthic Algae

Lyngbya wollei blooms wash up on western basin shoreline

August 2003 Microcystis bloom in Maumee River plume in western Lake Erie

Project Objectives

Quantitatively connect external (tributary/ watershed NPS, point sources) and internal (sediment resuspension and porewater flux) pollutant sources to lake ecological endpoints: Sediment sedimentation and turbidity Nutrients nuisance & harmful algal blooms

Support USACE management decisions: Minimize need for dredging and impact Beneficial reuse Habitat enhancement (shoal areas)

Synthesize monitoring/modeling data and advance our understanding of the system (WLEB Partnership)

LMR-MB Model Framework

Hydrodynamic

Sub-Model

EFDC Model

Sediment Transport Sub-Model

“Simulating Waves Nearshore” (SWAN)

Wind-WaveSub-Model

Nutrient & Eutrophication

Sub-Model (RCA)

Shear Stress

Hydrodynamics• Water level• Current velocity

Water Quality Linkage• Flows• Suspended solids• Settling/resuspension

rates

Wind-Waves• Significant

height• Direction• Frequency

• Current velocity

Raisin

Huron

Portage

Maumee

Ottawa

Stony

Cedar

Detroit

Grid Characteristics:• Curvilinear Grid• 4,613 Horizontal Cells• 26,387 Total Cells (3D)

Maumee

Ottawa

Navigation Channel

Navigation Channel

Model Development / Calibration

Physical Data: Bathymetric: NOAA, USACE Hydrodynamic (flow, WL): USGS, NOAA Atmospheric (wind, etc.): NOAA/GLERL

Sediment Data: Sediment bed characteristics:

– Bathymetry changes (USACE dredge surveys)– Particle size distribution (GeoSea)

Suspended sediment characteristics: – Maumee River @ Waterville (Heidelberg)– Maumee Bay (T. Bridgeman, UT)

Satellite imagery (MODIS, Landsat) Water Quality Data:

Heidelberg University – Waterville load data University of Toledo – Maumee Bay data IFYLE – western basin data

Predicted vs. Observed Deposition in Navigation Channel (3/23/04 – 5/11/05)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000

Sedi

men

t Acc

retio

n (c

m)

Toledo Harbor Navigation Channel Stationing (feet)

Survey-based estimates

EFDC Model Prediction

Mau

mee

Rive

r mou

th

Model-Data Comparison for Total Suspended Solids (6/18/2004)

Data provided by Tom Bridgeman, University of Toledo

Maumee Flow: 28,200 cfs

Model-Data Comparison for Total Suspended Solids (8/23/2004)

Data provided by Tom Bridgeman, University of Toledo

Maumee Flow: 5,500 cfs

Total Suspended Solids Animation (March – June 2004)

Key UT Water Quality Monitoring Stations

Data provided by Tom Bridgeman, University of Toledo

Model-Data Comparison: "MB18"To

tal P

hosp

horu

sS

olub

le R

eact

ive

P

Model-Data Comparison: "MB18"C

hlor

ophy

ll a

Chlorophyll-a Animation (April-October 2004)

Model Application

1. Evaluation of reduced Maumee River sediment and nutrient loadings impacts on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin;

2. Evaluation of the stability of potential alternative locations for open-lake disposal of dredged sediments from the Toledo Harbor navigation channel;

3. Evaluation of the impact of sediment and nutrient releases occurring during open-lake dredge disposal activities on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin; and

4. Evaluation of the potential impact of removing the Maumee Bay causeway on entrainment of larval fish by the Bayshore coal power plant.

Sediment Accretion in Nav Channel for Load Reduction Scenarios (3/23/04 – 5/11/05)

Water Quality Response: 40% total phosphorus and sediment load reduction

Baseline Loads

40% load reduction

(August 2004)

Tota

l Pho

spho

rus

(mg/

l)C

hlor

ophy

ll a

(ug/

l)

Model Application

1. Evaluation of reduced Maumee River sediment and nutrient loadings impacts on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin;

2. Evaluation of the stability of potential alternative locations for open-lake disposal of dredged sediments from the Toledo Harbor navigation channel;

3. Evaluation of the impact of sediment and nutrient releases occurring during open-lake dredge disposal activities on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin; and

4. Evaluation of the potential impact of removing the Maumee Bay causeway on entrainment of larval fish by the Bayshore coal power plant.

Simulation of Bed Elevation Changes in Proposed Shoal Areas During 2004-05

Model Application

1. Evaluation of reduced Maumee River sediment and nutrient loadings impacts on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin;

2. Evaluation of the stability of potential alternative locations for open-lake disposal of dredged sediments from the Toledo Harbor navigation channel;

3. Evaluation of the impact of sediment and nutrient releases occurring during open-lake dredge disposal activities on water quality conditions in Maumee Bay and the Western Basin; and

4. Evaluation of the potential impact of removing the Maumee Bay causeway on entrainment of larval fish by the Bayshore coal power plant.

Summer average TSS for dredge disposal scenarios

No disposal

1.25M CYdisposal

0.8M CYdisposal

Show dredge disposal animation

Differential for summer average TSS for 1.25M CY open-lake dredge disposal vs. no disposal

Municipal Water Intake Locations

Use of LMR-MB Model to Support Management Programs

Quantify relative contribution of all sources to ecosystem endpoints of concern Turbidity in Maumee Bay and western basin Sedimentation in navigation channel Nutrient concentration distributions Harmful and nuisance algal blooms

Support planning and management decisions for BMP’s and erosion control in the watershed Reduction in dredging needs as a function of watershed actions Improvement in water quality in western basin as a function of

watershed actions Support USACE sediment management planning

Locate dredged material disposal areas (open-lake, habitat enhancements) and assess long-term stability

Design of in-stream and /harbor bay control structures that reduce dredging costs and sediment impacts in lake

EXTRA SLIDES

Use of LMRM to Support Management Programs

Evaluate stability of potential disposal sites Shoal areas for fish

habitat Fate of dredging material releases Evaluate impact of causeway removal

Larval fish entrainment Evaluate Maumee River solids load

reductions (e.g., 25%, 50%) Impact on nav channel deposition, turbidity