Author(s): Donald D. Carpenter; Lei Yang; Dean Mades; Ken Watson; Sid Flannery
Linked Author(s): Lei Yang
Keywords: Estuary Modeling; Ecohydraulics; Hydrodynamic Modeling
Abstract: HSW Engineering, Inc. (HSW) in conjunction with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and University of South Florida developed a hydrodynamic model of the Homosassa River in Florida to support an evaluation of the salinity and thermal regimes. This evaluation utilizes a calibrated three-dimensional ecohydraulics model of the estuary system based on the public domain code known as the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model. The underlying purpose of the investigation was to delineate habitat utilized by the West Indian Manatee during cold periods and to promote ecological health of the system by maintaining a natural salinity regimes. With regards to the thermal analysis, a “worst case” condition included the combination of air temperature, river discharge, and tidal stage that yielded a three day critically cold window in 2008. The model was developed for a 14kilometer stretch of spring fed estuary and was used to evaluate loss of salinity and thermal habitat resulting from specified spring flow reductions.
Year: 2010