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 = 250.1km2

Doyle Crossing

(outlet of watershed)

Million $ BridgeSacramento

Pre-restoration

condition(May 5, 2002)

The deep gully due to

instream erosion induces

low groundwater level.

Post-restoration

condition(July 29, 2004)

The deep gully was filled,

and a shallow channel

was dug nearby.

Fast channel flow

More subsurface

Deep gully

Pre-restoration

Slow channel flow

More subsurface

water storage

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 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.hydrologic and environmental processes.

It was peer-reviewed and published

(Nov/Dec 2004 issue of Journal of Hydrologic Engineering).

Interception and

Evapotranspiration Model

Subsurface Stormflow

Overland flow

(Sheet and Rill Flow)

Hillslope Pesticide Transport

Solar Radiation + Snow

Accumulation + Snowmelt

Models

Unsaturated flow and Infiltration

Model

Precipitation

Snowfall, Temperature, Wind Speed, Relative

Humidity

Rainfall

I.

HYDROLOGIC

MODULE

INPUT

Hillslope Processes

Hillslope Erosion/Sediment,

and Nutrient Transport

II. ENVIRONMENTAL

MODULE

Parameter values related to

Topography, Soil, Land Use Land

Cover characteristics

Hillslope

Regional

Groundwater

Stream Network Flow

In-stream Erosion/Sediment,

and Nutrient Transport

In-stream Pesticide Transport

Pesticide load at any

desired location

within a watershed

Sediment and

Nutrient load at

any desired

location within a

watershed

OUTPUT

Stream and Regional

Groundwater Processes

Surface/Subsurface/GW

Water Temperature

In-stream Temperature

Transport

Water temperature

at any desired

location within a

watershed

Streamflow Hydrograph/profile,

GW Table Elev/Hydraulic Head

Soil water content, ET, Inf. rates

at any desired location

within a watershed

Develop the GIS (Geographical Information System)

for the watershed based upon existing databases and

build model parameters

1680 - 17601760 - 18301830 - 19001900 - 19801980 - 2050

Elevation (m)

Area of Detail

N

EW

S8 0 8 16 Kilometers

StreamSub watershed

1980 - 20502050 - 21302130 - 22002200 - 22802280 - 2350No Data

DoyleCrossing

Stream network at Last Chance Creek watershed

0 - 5

Slope map and delineation of meadow land

Green: flat land

Yellow: steep land

(%)0 - 55 - 45.64No Data

Stream

N

EW

S

Cross section at outlet of domain E

1680

1690

1700

1710

1720

Elevation (m)

Cross section at outlet of domain G

1690

1695

1700

1705

1710

1715

1720

0 20 40 60 80 100

120

140

160

180

200

220

Distanse (m)

Elevation (m)

Surface

Estimated bedrock

Groundwater Flow

Domain

Cross section near Doyle Crossing

1650

1660

1670

1680

1690

1700

1710

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

510

540

570

Distanse (m)

Elevation (m)

Surface

Estimated bedrock

1650

1660

1670

1680

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

510

540

570

Distanse (m)

Elevation (m)

Surface

Estimated bedrock

Soil database

(USFS soil survey)

1051081091431571581601611641701721741831841911921931992312322332342352 43

Soil map unit

2 43248249250251252253257258259260261267268270271272273275276277278279293294304

Estimated soil parameters for WEHY model over

Last Chance Creek watershed (selected)Effective Rooting Rooting Rooting Rooting DepthDepthDepthDepth

Mean Saturated Hydraulic

Conductivity

Mean TotalMean TotalMean TotalMean TotalPorosityPorosityPorosityPorosity

0 - 22 - 44 - 66 - 88 - 1111 - 1313 - 1515 - 1717 - 1919 - 21

(cm/hr)

0.2 - 0.30.3 - 0.40.4 - 0.50.5 - 0.60.6 - 0.70.7 - 0.8

(cm3/cm3)

10 - 20

20 - 20

20 - 30

30 - 40

40 - 50

50 - 60

(in)

Vegetation Map (USFS)

1: Grass & shrub2: Forest

Number of Vegetation Layers

2: Forest

7 0 7 14 Kilometers

N

EW

S

Stream

Precipitation

Interception

by vegetation

Direct Evaporation

of Intercepted Water

Sun

Transpiration of

Root Zone Water

Through Fall

Infiltration

Direct runoff

Root Zone

Bare Soil

Evaporation

Unsaturated

Zone

Groundwater TableGroundwater Recharge

Infiltration

Snow coverSnowmelt

LAI

MYD15

Land Cover

MOD12

Statistical Study

of LAI

(Asner et al, 2003)

Statistical Study

of Rooting Depth

(Zeng, 2001)

Seasonally varying LAI for each vegetation type

Local Vegetation Survey

Historical

Atmospheric Data

NCEP, MM5

Ground Surface

Methodology for evapotranspiration with natural

vegetation

Local Vegetation Survey

by USFS

LAI Plant height, h Rooting Depth, dr

Plant Transpiration Coefficient, Kcb(LAI, h)(FAO, 1998)

Reference

Evapotranspiration,

ETo

Bare Ground

Evaporation

Ground Surface

Hydrometeorological

Condition

WEHY

Evapotranspiration

Estimated monthly LAI based on local

vegetation survey and MODIS data

Leaf Area Index

0 - 0.50.5 - 11 - 1.51.5 - 1.81.8 - 2.22.2 - 2.72.7 - 3.33.3 - 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

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

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)

MM5 NCDC

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Reconstructing distributed atmospheric data for

validation and for critical hydrologic periods

Air Temperature Quincy

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

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

Precip (mm)

MM5 Quincy Quincy

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Apr

Oct

Date

PrecipitationQuincy

Snow module to simulate accumulation and

melt processes of snow

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

Snow depth (m)

Simulated snow depth at Doyle Xing

Observed snow depth at Doyle Xing

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

9/3010

/2011

/911

/29

12/1

9

1/81/

282/

17 3/83/

284/

17 5/75/

276/

16

Date (2003-04)

Snow depth (m)

Monitored Data Collected for Model Validation

5796

5798

5800

5802

5804

5806

5808

5810

5812

elevation (feet)

Oct. 29, 2001

Oct. 25, 2004

Pre-restoration

Post-restoration

Original channel

Cross-section JF4

meter

1810

1811

1812

1813

1814

1815

Jul-01 Jan-02 Jul-02 Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04

RC4-2 RC5-2

5796

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

distance from left pin (feet)

Simulated Groundwater TableObserved Groundwater Table

Ground Surface

Local

groundwater

simulation

domainLocal Groundwater Simulation

at Rowland-Charles Reach

(Oct 1, 2001 – Sep 30, 2004)

Feather River Basin

Last Chance Creek watershed

(Project area)

Area = 250.1km2

Doyle Crossing

(outlet of watershed)

Million $ BridgeSacramento

Simulated

Hydrological

Conditions

Water Year

10/2003-9/2004

Q peak = 4.2 m3/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 Rooting Rooting Rooting DepthDepthDepthDepth

Mean Saturated Hydraulic

Conductivity

Mean TotalMean TotalMean TotalMean TotalPorosityPorosityPorosityPorosity

0 - 22 - 44 - 66 - 88 - 1111 - 1313 - 1515 - 1717 - 1919 - 21

(cm/hr)

0.2 - 0.30.3 - 0.40.4 - 0.50.5 - 0.60.6 - 0.70.7 - 0.8

(cm3/cm3)

10 - 20

20 - 20

20 - 30

30 - 40

40 - 50

50 - 60

(in)

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)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

10/1

11/1

12/1

1/1

2/1

3/1

4/1

5/1

6/1

7/1

8/1

9/1

Daily average flow (cms)

Simulated

ObservedPre-restoration (2001-2002)10/1

11/1

12/1

1/1

2/1

3/1

4/1

5/1

6/1

7/1

8/1

9/1

Date (2001-02)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

10/1

11/1

12/1

1/1

2/1

3/1

4/1

5/1

6/1

7/1

8/1

9/1

Date (2004-05)

Daily average flow (cms)

Simulated

ObservedPost-restoration (2004-2005)

Comparison of model simulated and observed sediment

load at Doyle Crossing for post-restoration condition

(Oct. 2004 - Sep. 2005)

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Sediment load (kg/s)

simulated

observed

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

10/2

11/1

12/1

12/3

1

1/30 3/1

3/31

4/30

5/30

6/29

Date (2004-05)

Sediment load (kg/s)

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 post-

restoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983)

30.0

40.0

50.0

discharge (cms)

Pre-restoration

Post-restoration

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

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)

discharge (cms)

Comparison of monthly flow at Doyle Crossing

between pre-restoration and post-restoration

conditions (Oct. 1982 - Sep. 1983)

20000

25000

30000

Pre-restoration

Post-restoration

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Month

flow(acre-ft)

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)

237

238

239

Thousands

Groundwater storage (ac-ft)

Pre-restoration Post-restoration

232

233

234

235

236

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Month (1982-83)

Groundwater storage (ac-ft)

Comparison of sediment load at Doyle Crossing

between the pre-restoration and post-

restoration conditions (Oct.1982 - Sep.1983 )

30.0

35.0

40.0

sediment load (kg/s)

Pre-restoration

Post-restoration

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

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)

sediment load (kg/s)

Comparison of monthly sediment load at Doyle Crossing between

the pre-restoration and post-restoration conditions

(Oct.1982 - Sep.1983)

2000

2500

3000

sediment load (t/mon)

Pre-restoration

Post-restoration

0

500

1000

1500

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Month

sediment load (t/mon)

Assessment of restoration activities:

Monthly Sediment load at the Doyle Crossing (Oct.82-Sep.83)

Pre-

restoration (t)

Post-

restoration (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

17.5% reduction of annual sediment discharge may

be expected because of the restoration.

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

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.