Applying GIS and SWAT to understand the stream network, hydrology, sediment and nutrient export from the Grand River watershed into Lake Erie

Lake Erie ◽

Headwater Streams ◽

Agricultural Watershed ◽

Phosphorus Loading ◽

Nutrient Export ◽

Stream Network ◽

River Watershed ◽

Grand River ◽

Headwater streams are important lotic systems that represent more than 80% of the total stream lengths in watersheds. The dynamic coupling of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in headwaters is responsible for regulating the chemical form, residence time and longitudinal transport of nutrients. Over time, stream modification (e.g. to enhance drainage in agricultural watershed) has altered natural stream flow-paths and thus, stream functionality. Such alteration has resulted in degradation of habitat and water quality, both in upland and downstream waters. Currently, nutrients exported from the Grand River (Ontario) watershed are contributing to eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie. With respect to the Grand River watershed, this thesis examined (1) the impact of agriculture on the existing stream network, (2) the utility of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to simulate hydrology, sediment and nutrient export that closely correlate with measured data, and (3) the application of Best Management Practices in the watershed with the intent of meeting provincial and transnational nutrient targets. The results showed that compared to the actual ground-truthed stream network, the predicted stream network based on topography underpredicted a total of 2,535 km of actual channel present in the watershed. Channels not anticipated by topography were mostly first-order, with low sinuosity, and were most common in areas with high agricultural land use, and are likely excavated extensions to headwater streams to facilitate drainage. Then, the sediment and nutrient loading at Dunnville, discharging to entering Lake Erie, was predicted to be 2.3[superscript⁻1] 105 t yr[superscript-1] of total suspended sediment, 7.9 [superscript⁻1] 103 t yr-1 of total nitrogen, and 2.5 ⁻1 102 t yr-1 of total phosphorus. Finally, implementing wide buffer strips, stabilizing channel banks and grassed waterways were found to be the most effective practices for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading into Lake Erie.

SWAT modeling of hydrology, sediment and nutrients from the Grand River, Ontario

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2017.014 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 243-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Aslam Hanief ◽

Andrew E. Laursen

Keyword(s):

Stream Flow ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Management Practices ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Model Performance ◽

Nutrient Export ◽

Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽

Grand River

Abstract The Grand River watershed (GRW) is an important agricultural area in Southern Ontario. Land use has been modified by various human endeavors, altering hydrology and increasing export of sediment and nutrients. The objective of this study was to predict spatial and temporal patterns of hydrology, and export of sediment and nutrients from the GRW to Lake Erie using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The Sequential Uncertainty FItting (SUFI2) program was used to calibrate and validate stream flow for years 2001–2010. Calibration and validation of the SWAT model for monthly stream flow at York indicated good model performance (R2, NSE, and PBIAS = 0.64, 0.63 and 7.1 for calibration (2001–2005); = 0.82, 0.74 and 0.2, for validation (2006–2010)). The model was applied to predict sediment and nutrient export from the GRW into Lake Erie. Predicted loading at Dunnville (near the mouth) was 2.3 × 105 tonnes y−1 total suspended sediment, 7.9 × 103 tonnes y−1 TN, and 2.3 × 102 tonnes y−1 TP. This SWAT model can now be used to investigate the relative effects of best management practices, and to forecast effects of climate change, on sustainable water management, hydrology, and sediment and nutrient export to Lake Erie.

Meeting updated phosphorus reduction goals by applying best management practices in the Grand River watershed, southern Ontario

Ecological Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.02.007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 130 ◽

pp. 169-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Aslam Hanief ◽

Andrew E. Laursen

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Southern Ontario ◽

River Watershed ◽

Best Management ◽

Grand River ◽

Phosphorus Reduction

The impact of climate change on spatially varying groundwater recharge in the grand river watershed (Ontario)

Journal of Hydrology ◽

10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.02.036 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 338 (3-4) ◽

pp. 237-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 242

Author(s):

Mikko I. Jyrkama ◽

Jon F. Sykes

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

River Watershed ◽

Impact Of Climate Change ◽

Grand River ◽

Spatially Varying ◽

Optimized suspect screening approach for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of best management practices in reducing micropollutants transport in the Potomac River watershed

Water Research X ◽

10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100088 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 100088

Author(s):

Mary Grace E. Guardian ◽

Ping He ◽

Alysson Bermudez ◽

Shuiwang Duan ◽

Sujay S. Kaushal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Potomac River ◽

Suspect Screening ◽

River Watershed ◽

Best Management ◽

Screening Approach ◽

Numerical Modelling of the Grand River Plume in Lake Erie during Unstratified Period

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2006.002 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 16-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Cheng He ◽

Yerubandi R. Rao ◽

Michael G. Skafel ◽

Todd Howell

Keyword(s):

Lake Erie ◽

River Mouth ◽

River Plume ◽

Open Boundary ◽

Closed Domain ◽

Eastern Basin ◽

Receiving Waters ◽

Plume Transport ◽

Grand River ◽

Abstract The Grand River is a major contributor of nutrients and dissolved and suspended solids to the eastern basin of Lake Erie. To better understand the impact of the Grand River plume on the surrounding receiving waters, we integrated data analysis and modelling of the Grand River plume transport in the eastern basin of Lake Erie using a high-resolution depth-integrated nonlinear barotropic finite element model. An extended domain of receiving waters with closed boundary was applied in this numerical study due to the lack of observations needed for specifying the open boundary conditions. The size of closed domain was chosen by considering balance between the computing time and stabilizing the hydrodynamic flow. Numerical simulations of the influence of wind on the plume transport in the vicinity of the Grand River mouth were performed. The root mean square error values of alongshore and cross-shore current components were 5 and 2.85 cm s-1, respectively. The transport simulations compare favorably (±20%) with observations of conductivity in the vicinity of the Grand River mouth. This study demonstrates that a two-dimensional numerical model can reasonably predict the river plume transport in a large lake during unstratified periods. Plume movement is primarily controlled by the wind-driven coastal current. Our simulations indicate that the frequent reversals of this current should effectively limit the plume's alongshore extent and may result in a continuous coastal band of turbid water extending alongshore in either direction in the vicinity of the river mouth.

Optimized Suspect Screening Approach for a Comprehensive Assessment of the Impact of Best Management Practices in Reducing Micropollutants Transport in the Potomac River Watershed

Water Research ◽

10.1016/j.watres.2021.116805 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 116805

Author(s):

Mary Grace E. Guardian ◽

Ping He ◽

Alysson Bermudez ◽

Shuiwang Duan ◽

Sujay S. Kaushal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Potomac River ◽

Suspect Screening ◽

River Watershed ◽

Best Management ◽

Screening Approach ◽

Tile Drainage Increases Total Runoff and Phosphorus Export During Wet Years in the Western Lake Erie Basin

Frontiers in Water ◽

10.3389/frwa.2021.757106 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Samuel A. Miller ◽

Steve W. Lyon

Keyword(s):

Lake Erie ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Nitrate Concentration ◽

Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽

Tile Drainage ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Western Lake ◽

The Impact ◽

Western Lake Erie

Artificial subsurface (tile) drainage is used in many agricultural areas where soils have naturally poor drainage to increase crop yield and field trafficability. Studies at the field scale indicate that tile drains disproportionately export large soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and nitrate loads to downstream waterbodies relative to other surface and subsurface runoff pathways, but knowledge gaps remain understanding the impact of tile drainage to nutrient export at watershed scales. The Western Lake Erie Basin is susceptible to summertime eutrophic conditions driven by non-point source nutrient pollution due to a shallow mean water depth and land use dominated by agriculture. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of tile drainage on downstream discharge, nutrient concentrations, and nutrient loads for 16 watersheds that drain to the Western Lake Erie Basin. Daily discharge and nutrient concentrations were summarized annually and during the main nutrient loading period (March–July) for 2 years representing normal nutrient loading period precipitation (2018) and above normal precipitation (2019). Results indicate positive correlations between watershed tile drainage percentage and runoff metrics during 2019, but no relationship during 2018. Additionally, SRP concentration and load were positively correlated to watershed tile drainage percentage in 2019, but not in 2018. Watershed tile drainage percentage was correlated with nitrate concentration and load for both years. The SRP concentration-discharge relationships suggested relatively weak, chemodynamic behavior, implying a slight enriching effect where SRP concentrations were greater at higher stream discharge conditions during both years. In contrast, nitrate concentration-discharge relationships suggested strong, enriching chemodynamic behavior during 2018, but chemostatic behavior during 2019. The difference in SRP and nitrate export patterns in the 2 years analyzed highlights the importance of implementing appropriate best management practices that target specific nutrients and treat primary delivery pathways to effectively improve downstream aquatic health conditions.

Long-Term (15 Years) Results of NPS Controls in an Agricultural Watershed upon a Receiving Lake's Water Quality

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0447 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (3-5) ◽

pp. 441-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paul J. Garrison ◽

Timothy R. Asplund

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Water Clarity ◽

Management Control ◽

Agricultural Watershed ◽

Control Measures ◽

Phosphorus Loading ◽

Phosphorus Concentration ◽

White Clay

Nonpoint source controls were installed in a 1215 ha agricultural watershed in northeastern Wisconsin in the late 1970. Changes were made in handling of animal wastes and cropping practices to reduce runoff of sediment and nutrients. Modelling results predicted a reduction in phosphorus runoff of 30 percent. The water quality of White Clay Lake has worsened since the installation of NPS controls. The lake's phosphorus concentration has increased from a mean of 29 µg L−1 in the late 1970s to 44 µg L−1 in recent years. Water clarity has declined from 2.7 to 2.1 m and the mean summer chlorophyll levels have increased from 9 to 13 µg L−1 with peak values exceeding 40 µg L−1. Increased phosphorus loading is not the result of elevated precipitation but instead the failure of the control measures to sufficiently reduce P loading. Most of the effort was placed on structural changes while most of the P loading comes from cropland runoff. Further, soil phosphorus concentrations have increased because of artificial fertilizers and manure spreading. The White Clay Lake experience is discouraging since the majority of the polluters in this watershed utilized some NPS control practices, including 76 percent of the farms which installed waste management control facilities.