systech engineering, inc warmf training session for truckee river watershed laura weintraub systech...

Systech Engineering, Inc

WARMF Training Session for Truckee River Watershed

Laura Weintraub

Systech Engineering, Inc.

September 13, 2006


Workshop Agenda10:00 – 12:00: Lecture

• Background on WARMF • How will we use WARMF for TMDL?• Coverage of TR watershed• WARMF Calibration - non-point source load prediction • WARMF-->TRHSPF data transfer

12:00 – 1:15: Lunch on your own

1:15 – 5:00: Hands-On “How to run WARMF” (15 min break ~2:30)• Install / Walk through WARMF Modules• View Model Input/Output• Example Scenario – Septic System Removal


WARMF Background


Model n. A schematic description of a system, theory, or phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be used for further study of its characteristics.

-The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English

Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

What Is a Model?


Why Do We Use Models?

Problem Decision Results


Why Do We Use Models?

• Model helps to answer “What if?”

Problem Decision ResultsPlanning

Model Output

Decision Making Tools

Data

MODEL


Types of Watershed Models Mass Balance Assessments

– Back of the envelope calculation, spreadsheet– Low cost, easy to implement, numerous simplifying

assumptions GIS-mapping-based Tools

– Link simple mass balance models to GIS databases– Produce maps highlighting sensitive watershed regions– Interesting but can lack quantitative information

Mathematical Models– Complex tools using differential equations to describe

physical processes– Rigorous, physically-based, provide dynamic simulation of

system


What is a Watershed Model?

Measured Data•Hydrologic Conditions •Water Quality

Watershed Characteristics

•Land use•Fertilizer•Catchment areas/slope •Soil characteristics•Septic systems

Meteorological Conditions

Air Quality

Model Output•Stream flow•Water quality (nutrients, DO, Chl-a, TSS)•Loading

Watershed Model Adjustable parameters: •Precipitation weighting, temperature lapse•Initial conditions•Reaction rates•BMPs•Bank stability / vegetation factors

Point Sources

Managed Flow•Diversions•Reservoir Releases

COMPARISON


How Does it Work?

• Model balances flows of mass into and out of linked control volumes (e.g. soil layer, river segment).

Water flow w/ nutrients

Rain, fertilizer, air deposition

Outflow to downstream river or reservoir

River or Reservoir

Catchment

(land surface)

Inflow from upstream river

Reactions Reactions


What is WARMF?

• GIS-based watershed model and DSS• Physically based, dynamic model

– Simulates flow, temperature, nutrients TSS, DO, Fecal Coli, Chl-a, etc.,

• Friendly tool, easily transferred to stakeholders• Well-suited for answering questions during the TR

TMDL process

Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework


• Based on algorithms from legacy models• Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor Objects =

Catchment + Stream Segment + Lake Layer • Dynamic Watershed Model, Daily Time Step• Driven by Meteorology and Land Use Data• Processes = Kinetic Expressions• Mass-Heat Balance = Advection + Diffusion + Sink +

Source

• C(t) = C(to) + dC/dt t

Theoretical Basis of WARMF


WARMF Credentials

WARMF Applications

• Applied to over 17 watersheds– Hydrology, water quality, TMDLs, watershed planning

• 4 USEPA-Guided Peer Reviews • Available as a Public Domain Tool via USEPA

– Compatible with EPA BASINS


Questions WARMF Can Help Answer

• How will regional growth affect hydrology and water quality?

• What is the allowable loading of a pollutant to a river?

• What strategies will be effective for nonpoint load reduction?

• What is the effect of power production on water quality?


How Will We Use WARMF for the Truckee River TMDL?

Predict the nonpoint loading into the Truckee River

Provide boundary condition loadings for TRHSPF

Evaluate how nonpoint loading could change with varying land use, meteorological conditions, water use


Truckee River TMDL Revision

Why link models together?• Daily predictions of flow and water quality better than monthly

estimates used in past• WARMF can predict impact of land use change on water quality • Both models incorporate TROM, future land use conditions, and

massive amounts of local watershed and river data

WARMFWatershed Model

Predicts nonpoint source loads for input to TRHSPF

TRHSPFIn-stream Water Quality Model

Calculates final TMDL analysis


WARMF – TRHSPF Linkage

• TRHSPF Model Domain– Thick yellow lines

• WARMF Boundary conditions – Thick blue lines

and shaded catchments


WARMF Application

to the Truckee

River


Model Development Process

Collect input and calibration data

Build model and analyze data

Calibrate model: hydrology and water quality


History of WARMF-Truckee

WARMF Adaptation, 1998-2001– Data Compilation– Model Setup, Enhancement, Calibration

Steamboat Creek, 1998-2000– Model Comparison of WARMF vs. HSPF

(Aqua Terra)

Scenario Runs for USBR, 2003– Supported TROA EIS/EIR – Boundary conditions for DSAMMt

Stakeholder Training, 2004– Two day workshop sponsored by City of

Reno

Truckee River TMDL Revision, 2005-2007– Updated database through 2004– Low-flow simulation improvements– Model Calibration Refinement– WARMF Training– Scenario Runs to support TMDL Revision


Watershed Processes in Truckee River

Irrigation Return

Pyramid Lake

Groundwater Seepage

Steamboat Creek/ TributariesHuffaker

Reservoir

Evaporation

Water Plant

Septage

Lake Tahoe

Snow Melt

HeatRainfall

TMWRF

Reservoirs

Erosion Runoff

Urban Drainage


WARMF Input DataData Source Details

DEM USGS Map delineated to 94 catchments, 78 river segments, 7 reservoirs

Meteorology NCDC, SNOTEL Reno, Stateline, Tahoe City, Mt. Rose, Truckee, Virginia City, Wadsworth, Big Meadow

Reservoir USGS, USBR, CDEC Release, Bathymetry, Elevation

Land Use Washoe Co., BASINS 11 Land uses

Air Quality NADP Smith Valley, Lyon County

Diversion Federal Water Master 46 Diversions

Point Source TMWRF, NDEP, TTSA 2 Major, 5 Minor

Observed Stream Flow

USGS 28 Stations

Observed Water Quality

NDEP, STORET, TMWRF, LRWQCB, T-TSA

38 Stations


How Complete and Thorough is WARMF’s coverage of the Truckee River Watershed?

• Land Use– Two Projections: “Current” and 2020 projection– 12 Land Use Categories

• Map extent – Lake Tahoe down to Pyramid Lake

• Water Quantity– meteorogically driven simulations– water diversion, irrigation and return flows– USBR reservoir releases

• Point sources – Major: TTSA and TMWRF – Several minor


How Complete and Thorough is WARMF’s coverage of the Truckee River Watershed?

• Anthropogenic loads– septic systems– urban surface loading– pasture loading– confined feeding stockyard– reuse application– reservoir leakage??

• Natural loading– air deposition– steamboat hot springs– ground water accrual near fernley


What is WARMF’s Predictive Capacity for Nonpoint Loads? Calibration

• •

• ••

• •••

••

•• •

- Measured- Modeled

Modeled

Target Accuracy

Measu

red

X

X

X

XX

XX

X

• Adjust model parameters, reaction rates, etc. until simulated flow or concentration is as close as possible to observed data

• Start with hydrology, then water quality• Use visual inspection and statistical output to determine

goodness of fit


Periods of WARMF Simulations

• Model Calibration10/1/1990 – 12/31/1997

• Model Validation (use same model parameters with different input data set)10/1/1997 – 12/31/2004

10/1/1985 – 12/31/1990


Calibration Parameters• Hydrology

• Water Quality

• Sediment TransportCatchment WatershedPrecipitation weighting Snow formation temperatureTemperature lapse Snow melting temperatureSoil thickness Melting ratesField capacityHydraulic conductivitySurface roughness

Catchment River Land UseInitial soil Reaction rates Fertilization/surface loading ratesconcentration (nitrification, SOD, ProductivityAdsorption organic carbon decay) Litter fall and uptakecoefficients Soil and foliar nitrification

Catchment River Land UseSoil erosivity Initial sediment depth Rainfall detachment factorParticle content Detachment velocity multiplier Flow detachment factor

Detachment velocity exponent Cropping factorParticle content


Hydrology Truckee River at Reno/Sparks1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Nitrogen Truckee River at Reno/Sparks

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Phosphorus Truckee River at Reno/Sparks

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Dissolved Solids Truckee River at Reno/Sparks

1990-1997 1998-2004


Hydrology Steamboat Creek at Cleanwater Way 1998-20041990-1997


Total Nitrogen Steamboat Creek at Cleanwater Way

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Phosphorus Steamboat Creek at Cleanwater Way

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Dissolved Solids Steamboat Creek at Cleanwater Way

1990-1997 1998-2004


Hydrology Truckee River at Vista1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Nitrogen Truckee River at Vista

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Phosphorus Truckee River at Vista

1990-1997 1998-2004


Total Dissolved Solids Truckee River at Vista

1990-1997 1998-2004


Loading Output


Calibration Refinement• Revisiting data limitations and model assumptions

– Septic systems– Litterfall / uptake rates– Soil hydrology in Steamboat Creek region– Air quality– TTSA data assumptions (e.g. use well data, apply time lag)– Urban surface loading rates– Upstream reservoir contributions (e.g. seasonal patterns of N)

• Additional sources of loading– Confined feeding– Reservoir leakage

• QA/QC Data for Calibration– Ensure all appropriate data is included for calibration comparison– Review calibration data with scatter. Remove extraneous data

• Finalize Calibration and Prepare Report


WARMF – TRHSPF Linkage

• TRHSPF Model Domain– Thick yellow lines

• WARMF Boundary conditions – Thick blue lines

and shaded catchments


WARMF TRHSPF Data Transfer

• Linkage: Upstream boundary (Glendale), tributaries, local catchments draining to TR

• Define scenarios to be run• WARMF Input: TROM outflows, 2020 land use• WARMF output generated using export tool:

– Daily predictions of flow and water quality – Impact of land use change on water quality– Impact of water management on nonpoint loads


WARMF Output Export Tool


Installation of

WARMF


WARMF Installation• Installation Directory:

c:\program files\systech\warmf\truckee• CD Contents

– WARMF model– Database for Truckee River Basin– Calibration, validation and ConvertSeptic scenario

results– Warmfdoc.pdf – Documentation– WarmfUsersGuide.pdf – User’s Guide– Knowledge Module Files


Walk Through WARMF Modules


Engineering and Data Modules


Subwatershed Breakpoints

• Break system into smaller sections• Boundary condition file created at

each breakpoint (flowqout.ID#)• View / Subwatersheds• Automatic breaks at each reservoir• Click on river to set new breakpoint• To run independently…

– Must be a headwater section…OR…

– Subwatershed above already run with same simulation period (flowqout.ID# file for upstream must exist)


Data Module• Data driving simulation

Time Series: meteorology, air quality, managed flow, point sources

Scenario Data: land use, fertilizer, physical data, reaction rates, sediment coefficients

• Calibration data Observed hydrology and water quality

• Insert or add rows• Copy and paste from Excel• Document source of data


Scenario Management

Project Files(Truckee)

Watershed Data(pts, met, air, etc.)

Scenario Data(Base90to97)

Scenario Data(ConvertSeptic)

Scenario Data(StRest)

FILE SAVE

SCENARIO SAVE

Projects can have any number of scenarios, but only 4 can be open at any given time.


Project FilesGeneral for all scenariosTruckee.wsh – map fileTruckee.wsm

name of .wsh filenumber of scenarioslist of scenariosname of consensus file

Truckee.con – consensus filestakeholder informationintended use / criteriasaved TMDLslist of pictures


Scenario Data (Base90to97, ConvertSeptic, etc.)

Viewed through Engineering module and modified to generate new scenarios.

INPUT

Base.coe - coefficients, rates, land use, fertilizer

OUTPUT

Base.cat – catchment outputBase.riv – river outputBase.lak – lake outputBase.psm – loading output


Watershed Data FilesViewed through data module*.air – air quality *.met – meteorology data*.pts – point source data*.flo – release and diversion data*.orh – observed river flow*.orc – observed river WQ*.olh – observed lake elevation*.olc – observed lake WQ*.pic – picture files*.avi – picture files


Create a New Scenario

1. Select BASE as active scenario

2. Go to scenario manager and click on COPY

3. OK to copy active scenario? YES

4. Type in new scenario name

5. Open the new scenario (close others if necessary)

6. Make it active by selecting it under Scenario Menu

7. Do a FILE SAVE to save new scenario configuration

8. Do a SCENARIO SAVE to save new data


• Reduce Simulation Time– Run smaller subwatersheds– Run a shorter time period– Turn off chemistry

• Conserve Hard Drive Space– Turn off constituents – Edit / Output List– Turn off catchments, rivers, etc. – Input Dialogs / Write

Output to File– Delete Old Scenarios – Scenario / Delete

Time and Space Savers


Consensus Module


Loading and WQ

• Must have Generate Loading checked in Run Dialog to view results

• Select River or Reservoir to add or delete loading chart

• Double click on loading chart for values

• Loading only calculated for subwatersheds that are run


TMDL Module


TMDL Procedure

• TMDL = WLA+LA+FG+MOS

• Water Quality Limited Sections (WQLS)

• Intended Use

• Multiple Possible Solutions

• Cost Sharing or Pollution Trading

• Stakeholder Involvement


Knowledge Module


Files Contained in Knowledge Module

• BeneficialUses.xls– Spreadsheet showing the beneficial uses and criteria for

California, Nevada, PLPT• TMDL.pdf

– Truckee River TMDL, NDEP 1993• IrrigationSpreadsheet.xls

– Spreadsheet used to allocate diversion water back to individual land catchments

• SBCreekModelCompare.pdf– Report of model comparison between WARMF and HSPF in

Steamboat Creek region• WARMFPeerReview.pdf

– WARMF Peer Review publication, EPRI 2000• WARMFTruckeeFinal02.pdf

– WARMF- Truckee modeling final report, Systech Engineering (updated 2002)


Potential Scenario Development

• Livestock Exclusion• River Restoration

WARMF’s Consensus Module McCarran Ranch Restoration Site

• Septic System Conversion • Water Management (TROM,

conservation, modified diversions)


Example Problem

Septic System Conversion


Example: Septic System Conversion• Retire 924 Septic

Systems in Verdi region• Add domestic waste

from these residences to TMWRF discharge

Truckee River at Verdi


Step 1: Create New Scenario1. Use Scenario Manager to make a duplicate copy of base run

2. Copy to a new name (ConvertSeptic)

3. Make sure scenario is “open”

4. Make sure scenario is “active”


Step 2: Remove Septic Systems

Catchment ID

Existing “Population Served”

Tanks Converted

Converted Population

New “Population Served”

418 1296 540 1296 0

2274 1654 87 209 1445

419 31 22 31 0

2273 485 157 377 108

420 250 118 250 0

Total 3716 924 2163 1553

Reduce “Population Served by Septics” in 5 specified catchments

1. Locate catchments in table using Edit / Find

2. Open catchment and change value in the Population Served by Septics field.


Step 3: Add Additional Load to TMWRF

1. Locate River Segment with TMWRF using Edit / Find (by ID “67” or by name “TMWRF”). May need to zoom in to see it.

2. Replace existing TMWRF point source file with new file (TMWRFConvSeptic.pts)


Step 4. Run Scenario

1. Select Scenario / Save.

2. Select Scenario / Run to open run dialog. Click OK. Let it chug along…

3. Simulation Complete! Close dialog.


Step 5: View Output

Loading Comparison

Septic System Loading (kg/d)

Point Source Loading (kg/d) ΔLoading

(kg/d)Base Convert Septic

Base Convert Septic

Nitrate 2.38 1.35 43.8 44 -0.83

Total Nitrogen 4.04 1.91 347 349 -0.13

Total Phosphorus 0.565 0.186 41.6 41.9 -0.079

Fecal Coli. (1e6/d) 7.21e6 2.37e6 5150 5170 -4.84e5

BOD 45.1 15.3 770 775 -24.8

•Decrease in nonpoint loading (septic system category).

•Increase in point source loading

•Overall decrease in loading


More Example Problems in Handout• Water Augmentation / Land Use Change• Stream Restoration / Livestock Management

systech engineering, inc warmf training session for truckee river watershed laura weintraub systech...

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