Numerical Modeling of Hydrodynamics and Salinity Transport in Little Manatee River

Huang, Wenrui; Liu, Xiaohai; Xin-jian, Chen

doi:10.2112/1551-5036-52.sp1.13

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…For water temperature verification, R 2 values are 0.99, 0.96, and 0.93; and the RMSE are 0.37, 1.14, 1.39 degrees, at Station 554, Station 546, and Station 542, respectively. Details of model calibrations and verifications have been given in Huang et al (2008). Examples of comparisons between model simulations and observations during the four months of model verification period are presented in Figs.…”

Section: Model Setup Calibration and Verificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical Flow for Water Management in a Shallow Tidal River Based on Estuarine Residence Time

Huang

Liu

Chen

et al. 2011

Water Resour Manage

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To support the development of protective water resources management strategies, a 3D hydrodynamic model was applied to the Little Manatee River (LMR) to evaluate the effects of reducing river flow and drought on the Estuarine Residence Time (ERT). ERT is an important indicator for estuarine environmental quality. The Little Manatee River is a small tidal river estuary with a yearly mean gaged freshwater inflow of 4.8 m 3 /s. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated and verified by using two continuous data sets for a six month period. Model simulations were conducted for 17 river inflow scenarios. Among the flow scenarios, 13 scenarios were within a flow range from 0.26 m 3 /s to 10 m 3 /s total freshwater inflow. A regression equation (R 2 = 0.98) fitted by a power-law function was derived from analysis of the hydrodynamic modeling results to correlate model predicted ERT to total river inflow, though ERT can be predicted from gaged freshwater inflow as well. The study indicates that the estuarine residence time reaches 53.3 days under an extreme drought condition of 0.26 m 3 /s total inflow. When river inflow falls below the critical flow (4 m 3 /s or less), further flow reductions can cause the substantial increases of ERT by a factor of 2 to 10 times. This suggests that the management of flow reductions is particularly critical when total river flows are 4 m 3 /s or less if adverse impacts to the water quality and ecological characteristics of the Little Manatee River are to be avoided.

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Section: Model Setup Calibration and Verificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical Flow for Water Management in a Shallow Tidal River Based on Estuarine Residence Time

Huang

Liu

Chen

et al. 2011

Water Resour Manage

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“…The data were divided into two data sets. Data for the period of January 1-February 28 of 2005 were used in model calibration, while data for the period of [13]. Results indicate that the calibrated EFDC model provides satisfactory descriptions water level variations, and the mixing and transport processes between fresh and salt waters in the Little Manatee River system.…”

Section: Description Of Hydrodynamic Model For Little Manatee Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the low and minimum flow scenarios can be used to evaluate the potential environmental impact under drought seasons. Constant ungaged inflows for corresponding gaged flow scenarios, as shown in Table 1, were approximately estimated from the gaged inflows by the percentage as determined from the regression analysis [13]. The total constant inflows were obtained by summing the gaged inflows and all un-gaged inflows from the watersheds.…”

Section: Seventeen Constant Inflow Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2. Ungaged constant inflows were approximately estimated from the gaged inflows by the percentage as determined from the regression analysis [13] Water ages nonlinearly vary in term of distance along the main channel. This is due mainly to the velocity variations along the channel as the results of the changes in cross section areas.…”

Section: Tidally-averaged Water Age Along the Main Channel Under Diffmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating river flow effects on water ages by hydrodynamic modeling in Little Manatee River estuary, Florida, USA

et al. 2009

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The water age in a tidal river in Florida, Little Manatee River, has been investigated in this study by the application of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. In response to a pulse dye release in the upper end of the river boundary, the hydrodynamic model determines the water age for a given location by recording the time for the dye to reach the given river location. The hydrodynamic model uses horizontal curvilinear orthogonal grids to represent the complex river system that includes several bayous and tributaries. The model has was calibrated and verified in previous study by using two continuous data sets for a 6 month period. Satisfactory model verifications indicate that the hydrodynamic model is capable of quantifying the mixing and transport process for calculating the water age in the tidal river. For 17 freshwater inflow scenarios in the Little Manatee River, the hydrodynamic model was applied to simulate water ages along the main channel of the river at 2-km interval. Flow rates in the 17 scenarios varying from 0.26 to 76.56 m 3 /s cover the range of the observed flows in the Little Manatee River. Water ages from model predictions range from the minimum 1.2 days under the maximum 76.56 m 3 /s inflow condition to the 50 days under the minimum 0.26 m 3 /s inflow condition. Empirical regression equations at three selected stations, with the correlation coefficient R 2 above 0.96, were derived from numerical model simulations to correlate water ages to freshwater inflows. The empirical water-age equation derived from hydrodynamic model simulations can be used to provide quick and low-cost estimations of water ages in response to various inflow scenarios for studying physical-chemical and biological processes in the river.

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“…The data were divided into two data sets. The first data set for the period of 01/01/ Huang et al (2008) [7] .…”

Section: Model Calibration and Verificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of reducing river flow on pulse residence time in Little Manatee River, USA

Huang

Liu

2009

Trans. Tianjin Univ.

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Abstract：Residence time is an important indicator for river environmental management. In this paper, a 3D hydrodynamic model has been successfully applied to Little Manatee River to characterize the mixing and transport process and residence time. The model employs horizontal curvilinear orthogonal grids to represent the complex river system that consists of branches and bayous. The model has been satisfactorily calibrated and verified by using two continuous data sets. The data sets consist of hourly observations of all forcing boundaries, including freshwater inputs, tides, winds, salinity and temperatures at bay boundary, and air temperatures for model simulations. The data sets also consist of hourly observations of water levels, salinity, and temperature at several river stations. The calibrated and verified hydrodynamic model was used to predict residence time in the Little Manatee River. Under the minimum flow of 0.312 m 3 /s, the pulse residence time (PRT) is 108 days. Model simulations were also conducted for 17 flow scenarios. Empirical regression equations have been satisfactorily derived to correlate PRT to freshwater inflow. Correlation coefficient R 2 is 0.982 for PRT.Keywords：hydrodynamic modeling；estuary；residence time；tidal river Little Manatee River (LMR) is a tidal estuary located in the southwest of Tampa Bay. The LMR originates in a swampy area in the east of Fort Lonesome in southeastern Hillsborough County and flows generally westward for about 40 miles toward its discharge point into Tampa Bay near Ruskin. Florida statutes require Southwest Florida Water Management District to establish and implement Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for certain priority water bodies within their respective jurisdictional boundaries. The Florida statutes defines the minimum flow for a given watercourse as "the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area " . When a river or stream drops below its minimum flow, the aquatic life of that ecosystem can be harmed. The flow of rivers and streams also impacts fresh water and salt water mixing in estuaries. Many fish species in coastal Florida are estuarine dependent, meaning they spend part of their development in an estuary environment. Without enough fresh water flowing in from rivers and streams, an estuary becomes saltier, disrupting the delicate balance of life. In coastal areas, when water levels in the aquifer drop too low, salt water from the Gulf of Mexico can creep, or intrude, further into the freshwater aquifer, the source of 80% of the District′s drinking water. Once this happens, that part of the aquifer becomes mineralized and requires a special treatment process to purify it to drinking water or irrigation standards.This paper presents the application of a 3D hydrodynamic model to support the water resource management for minimum flows and levels for the tidal reach of the LMR. A key element for adopting minimum flows for the LMR is a sound understanding of salinity transport process...

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Numerical Modeling of Hydrodynamics and Salinity Transport in Little Manatee River

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

Critical Flow for Water Management in a Shallow Tidal River Based on Estuarine Residence Time

Critical Flow for Water Management in a Shallow Tidal River Based on Estuarine Residence Time

Estimating river flow effects on water ages by hydrodynamic modeling in Little Manatee River estuary, Florida, USA

Effects of reducing river flow on pulse residence time in Little Manatee River, USA

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