Rio Blanco Watershed The Rest of the Story

Located Northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico Located Northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico Physical Characteristics

Main river is about 14 miles long Main river is about 14 miles long Watershed area of roughly 65 mi 2 Watershed area of roughly 65 mi 2 Approximately 100,000 residents within watershed boundary Approximately 100,000 residents within watershed boundary Water was used as a culinary source before it became so polluted Water was used as a culinary source before it became so polluted Water is currently used for agriculture Water is currently used for agriculture Physical Characteristics

Watershed Problems Pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture Pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture Residential wastewater is not treated prior to discharge Residential wastewater is not treated prior to discharge Waste from cattle, pork, and poultry farms Waste from cattle, pork, and poultry farms Small, local factories Small, local factories Dead animals Dead animals Garbage Garbage

Suds from detergents in Rio Blanco Little Hispanic Girl for Scale

Residential Discharge

Why Nothing has Been Done Money Money Social apathy Social apathy Lack of funds Lack of funds Lack of government support Lack of government support No cash No cash

Project Goals Water quality analysis of the watershed Water quality analysis of the watershed Suggest possible solutions Suggest possible solutions Create WMS/GIS model of watershed Create WMS/GIS model of watershed

Project Snags Watershed delineation Watershed delineation Communication Communication Lack of a clear definition of objectives from the beginning Lack of a clear definition of objectives from the beginning Lack of data Lack of data Different classification systems Different classification systems

Initial Delineation from Supplied DEM’s

Initial delineation compared to Mexico’s given delineation Initial Delineation Mexico’s Delineation

Closer look at differences

Examining the differences Initial Delineation Mexico’s Delineation

Water Quality Analysis Using QUAL2Kw

QUAL2K and QUAL2Kw QUAL2K is a computer model developed by Greg Pelletier and Steve Chapra QUAL2K is a computer model developed by Greg Pelletier and Steve Chapra It is used to simulate water quality in streams and rivers It is used to simulate water quality in streams and rivers QUAL2K was preceded by QUAL2E, which was originally developed in 1987 QUAL2K was preceded by QUAL2E, which was originally developed in 1987 QUAL2K expands on the capabilities of QUAL2E by adding: QUAL2K expands on the capabilities of QUAL2E by adding: –Functionality to segment river systems into river reaches –Input of carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) as slowly or rapidly oxidizing forms –Specify algae growth, PH, pathogen quantities –A user interface integrated into Microsoft Excel QUAL2Kw is related to QUAL2K and simply adds greatly functionality QUAL2Kw is related to QUAL2K and simply adds greatly functionality QUAL2Kw is available from the Washington State Department of Ecology QUAL2Kw is available from the Washington State Department of Ecology

QUAL2Kw Uses Simulate the variation of water quality parameters Simulate the variation of water quality parameters –Along the length of stream –Over the course of a day Can create a water quality model for a river, which can then be verified through validation and sensitivity analyses Can create a water quality model for a river, which can then be verified through validation and sensitivity analyses If the model gives good results in the validation and sensitivity analyses, it then can be used for forecasting If the model gives good results in the validation and sensitivity analyses, it then can be used for forecasting

QUAL2Kw Parameters The most sensitive parameters are: 1.Head water Info –Lat/long and elevation (location info) –Temperature –Dissolved Oxygen –BOD –Nitrogen –Phosphorus –Alkalinity –pH 2.Reach Info –Lat/Long and Elevation –Hydraulic Model (Weir Overrides Rating Curves; Rating Curves Override Manning Formula) –Algal Info

QUAL2Kw Parameters (contd..) 3. Air Temperature (Better if hourly) 4. Dew point temperature (Better if hourly) 5. Wind speed and day light info 6. Source info –Inflow rate and quality (point or distributed) –Outflow rate and quality (point or distributed) 7. Rates for various chemical reactions

Input Parameters Manning’s nManning’s n Wind speedWind speed Cloud cover and hours of sunshineCloud cover and hours of sunshine Amount and quality of inflow sourcesAmount and quality of inflow sources All the reaction ratesAll the reaction rates Channel cross section Channel cross section Temperature Temperature (Air and Dew Point) (Air and Dew Point) Inorganic Solids Inorganic Solids Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen Phosphorus Phosphorus Phytoplankton Phytoplankton Alkalinity Alkalinity We assumed Lat/Long, elevationLat/Long, elevation Suspended solid, NitrogenSuspended solid, Nitrogen pHpH BODBOD We had

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In Order to Improve Our Model The following data is needed: The following data is needed: –Sufficient channel geometry data –Water quality info –Reaction rates –Climatological data –Inflow/Outflow locations, rates and quality info