COMPARISON OF NUTRIENT LOADINGS ESTIMATED BY THE HSPF AND WARMF WATERSHED MODELS FOR STEAMBOAT CREEK, NEVADA

Client:

Carollo Engineers, Walnut Creek, CA

AQUA TERRA served as a subcontractor to Carollo Engineers for the watershed model development subtask of the Reno/Sparks/Washoe County Regional Wastewater Facilities Design - Phases I and II. Carollo Engineers, with the assistance of AQUA TERRA, developed a watershed model for the Truckee River Basin using the WARMF model (Systech Engineering, Inc.) to calculate nonpoint nutrient loads to the mainstem of the Truckee River. The results were interfaced with the instream DSSAM model so that the integrated modeling system could be used to evaluate the likely water quality impacts of alternative loading scenarios and to develop revised TMDLs. As one measure of the reliability of the WARMF-generated results, Carollo Engineers asked AQUA TERRA to develop an application of the HSPF model and compare model results for the two models for the Steamboat Creek sub-watershed.

AQUA TERRA performed the following tasks in support of the project:

• Gathered hydrologic, meteorologic, and water quality data for the Steamboat Creek watershed and converted it into proper formats for use with HSPF
• Developed a simulation plan establishing the constituents to be modeled and the locations where simulated and observed results were to be compared
• Determined the overall water balance for the Steamboat Creek watershed including water diversion into, and out of, the basin
• Implemented the model representation of the physical system including segmentation of the watershed land surface and division of the channel into model reaches
• Developed preliminary model results and presented results at client workshops
• Provided recommendations related to potential management scenarios and suggestions for further improvement of the model
• Assisted Carollo Engineers in writing portions of the draft and final project reports

Back to AQUA TERRA Consultants home page