The USGS Oregon Water Science Center water-quality modeling group develops and uses models at a range of scales, from those that focus on a specific reservoir or river reach to large-scale nutrient models of the entire Pacific Northwest.
In the field of surface water, a water-quality model is a mathematical representation of a river, stream, lake, or reservoir. These models include equations and algorithms that describe the processes affecting temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, nutrients, organic matter, toxics, aquatic plants, algae, and/or suspended sediment. Streamflow or circulation patterns are often a component of water-quality modeling, because mass transport is critical to water-quality cycles.
The USGS Oregon Water Science Center (ORWSC) water-quality modeling group develops and uses models at a range of scales, from those that focus on a specific reservoir or river reach to large-scale nutrient models of the entire Pacific Northwest.
Water-quality models have many applications and can be used to:
- Identify controlling water-quality processes
- Pinpoint data needs and target fieldwork
- Estimate water quality in areas without monitoring data
- Support TMDL analyses
- Explore water-quality effects of management options, restoration, or environmental change
Models from one to three dimensions are used within the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. Modeling tools in use include CE-QUAL-W2 (W2), SPARROW, PRMS, UnTRIM, RBM-10, HEC-RAS, SELDM, and various artificial neural network (ANN) and spreadsheet-based and custom models built with R and perl. Optimization of model parameter values sometimes utilizes the parameter estimation software PEST.
Water-quality modeling at ORWSC is conducted in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies. Technical modeling assistance is also provided to others within USGS. Collaboration with biologists, resource managers, regulators and others interested in water quality has been a natural outgrowth of the modeling program.
Feel free to contact Daniel Wise if you would like know more about this group.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
SPARROW modeling of nitrogen sources and transport in rivers and streams of California and adjacent states, U.S.
Sources and transport of phosphorus to rivers in California and adjacent states, U.S., as determined by SPARROW modeling
Simulations of a hypothetical temperature control structure at Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Improved algorithms in the CE-QUAL-W2 water-quality model for blending dam releases to meet downstream water-temperature targets
Development of a HEC-RAS temperature model for the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Water-quality modeling of Klamath Straits Drain recirculation, a Klamath River wetland, and 2011 conditions for the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the Klamath River, Oregon
Assessing potential effects of highway runoff on receiving-water quality at selected sites in Oregon with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM)
Estimation of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in streams of the Middle Columbia River Basin (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) using SPARROW models, with emphasis on the Yakima River Basin, Washington
Application of the SPARROW model to assess surface-water nutrient conditions and sources in the United States Pacific Northwest
Modeling the Water - Quality Effects of Changes to the Klamath River Upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Macrophyte and pH buffering updates to the Klamath River water-quality model upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Simulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon, for downstream temperature management
Below are software products associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
The USGS Oregon Water Science Center water-quality modeling group develops and uses models at a range of scales, from those that focus on a specific reservoir or river reach to large-scale nutrient models of the entire Pacific Northwest.
In the field of surface water, a water-quality model is a mathematical representation of a river, stream, lake, or reservoir. These models include equations and algorithms that describe the processes affecting temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, nutrients, organic matter, toxics, aquatic plants, algae, and/or suspended sediment. Streamflow or circulation patterns are often a component of water-quality modeling, because mass transport is critical to water-quality cycles.
The USGS Oregon Water Science Center (ORWSC) water-quality modeling group develops and uses models at a range of scales, from those that focus on a specific reservoir or river reach to large-scale nutrient models of the entire Pacific Northwest.
Water-quality models have many applications and can be used to:
- Identify controlling water-quality processes
- Pinpoint data needs and target fieldwork
- Estimate water quality in areas without monitoring data
- Support TMDL analyses
- Explore water-quality effects of management options, restoration, or environmental change
Models from one to three dimensions are used within the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. Modeling tools in use include CE-QUAL-W2 (W2), SPARROW, PRMS, UnTRIM, RBM-10, HEC-RAS, SELDM, and various artificial neural network (ANN) and spreadsheet-based and custom models built with R and perl. Optimization of model parameter values sometimes utilizes the parameter estimation software PEST.
Water-quality modeling at ORWSC is conducted in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies. Technical modeling assistance is also provided to others within USGS. Collaboration with biologists, resource managers, regulators and others interested in water quality has been a natural outgrowth of the modeling program.
Feel free to contact Daniel Wise if you would like know more about this group.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
SPARROW modeling of nitrogen sources and transport in rivers and streams of California and adjacent states, U.S.
Sources and transport of phosphorus to rivers in California and adjacent states, U.S., as determined by SPARROW modeling
Simulations of a hypothetical temperature control structure at Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Improved algorithms in the CE-QUAL-W2 water-quality model for blending dam releases to meet downstream water-temperature targets
Development of a HEC-RAS temperature model for the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Water-quality modeling of Klamath Straits Drain recirculation, a Klamath River wetland, and 2011 conditions for the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the Klamath River, Oregon
Assessing potential effects of highway runoff on receiving-water quality at selected sites in Oregon with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM)
Estimation of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in streams of the Middle Columbia River Basin (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) using SPARROW models, with emphasis on the Yakima River Basin, Washington
Application of the SPARROW model to assess surface-water nutrient conditions and sources in the United States Pacific Northwest
Modeling the Water - Quality Effects of Changes to the Klamath River Upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Macrophyte and pH buffering updates to the Klamath River water-quality model upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Simulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon, for downstream temperature management
Below are software products associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.