Author(s): D. D. Carpenter; L. Yang; D. Mades; K. W. Watson; S. Flannery
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: A hydrodynamic model of the Homosassa River in Florida is being developed by HSW Engineering, Inc., in conjunction with the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The model is a three-dimensional eco-hydraulics model of the estuary system based on the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC). The analysis is being performed on an approximately 12 kilometer stretch of spring fed estuary and the model results will be used to evaluate loss of salinity and thermal habitat resulting from specified spring flow reductions. The underlying purpose of the investigation is to delineate habitat utilized by the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) during cold periods and to promote ecological health of the system by maintaining natural salinity regimes. In this paper, we discuss data acquisition and analysis, model development, and an initial model calibration process including the complexities of modeling a complex dynamic estuarine environment.
Year: 2009