1. Hydraulics of Wetlands: Monitoring and Modeling Emily Spargo
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
REU Advisors: Drs. Kolar, Nairn, & Strevett

2. Report Overview
Wetland Hydrology
Tracer Test
Modeling
Conclusions

3. The Big Question
What is the hydraulic residence time of the water moving through the wetland, and how can I most effectively model the flow?

4. Wetland Hydrology ? ? ? ? ? Complex Systems Few Models Inputs
Surface & below ground flow
Few Models
First in 1970’s
Vary for specific type of wetland
? ? ? ? ?

5. Tracer Test Mechanics of a Tracer Test Bromide Input Sample
Break-through curve
Bromide
conservative
easy to measure
non-toxic

6. Site Map

7. Data Collection & Analysis
8-day sampling period
Hand and ISCO samples
Bromide Ion Selective Electrode Analysis

8. Modeling
Zero Order Model
INPUT
OUTPUT
BLACK BOX

9. Modeling First Order Model Second Order Model INPUT OUTPUT INPUT

10. Our Model BLACK BOX Groundwater model Step Injection Parameters:
Velocity
Dispersion
Tracer concentration after mixing

11. Site 1 velocity = 0.35 m/min. dispersion coefficient = 0.2 m2/min
Field data
Model
velocity = 0.35 m/min.
dispersion coefficient = 0.2 m2/min

12. Site 2 velocity = 0.01 m/min. dispersion coefficient = 0.5 m2/min
Field data
Model
velocity = 0.01 m/min.
dispersion coefficient = 0.5 m2/min

13. Site 3 velocity = 0.001 m/min. dispersion = 3 m2/min.
Field data
velocity = m/min.
dispersion = 3 m2/min.
Model
Field data
Model
velocity = m/min.
dispersion1 = 13 m2/min.
dispersion2 = 2.5 m2/min.

14. Conclusions ????? Trends: Residence Times: Average velocity decreases
Dispersion increases
Reasonable trends
Residence Times:
Site 1 = 25.7 minutes
Site 2 = 3.8 days
Site 3 = days
?????

15. Future Research MORE TIME MORE MONEY Complete tracer study
Increase model complexity
MORE MONEY
Purchase reliable equipment
Increase pay for REU students

16. Acknowledgements Dr. Kolar Dr. Nairn Dr. Strevett
Denae, Danette, Jake, Jessica, Kim, & Todd
NSF Grant # EEC