Spatially Distributed Hydrodynamic Modeling of Phosphorus Transport and Transformation in a Cell-Network Treatment Wetland
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22, Issue 1
Abstract
Understanding the spatio-temporal distribution of treatment wetland functions is critical for optimizing contaminant removal performance. This study presents the development of a spatially distributed, coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model to simulate phosphorus (P) dynamics in Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West (STA1W), a large cell-network treatment wetland in South Florida. The STAs receive most of their inflow from P-enriched agricultural drainage waters. The model dynamically simulates internal hydrology, and P transport and transformation within treatment cells that are connected by hydraulic structures. The modeled biogeochemical transformations are based on primary mechanisms regulating P behavior in soils and the water column. The model was compared to measured water levels (percent model error, ), discharge (), chloride and P concentrations in the water column ( and 18.6%), and soil P at multiple locations of each treatment cell. Then, the model was used to characterize the sensitivity of total P concentrations in the water column to uncertainties in habitat-specific P cycling model parameterizations. Of the parameters tested, P settling rate by submerged aquatic vegetation has the largest impact on the water column total P (TP) concentrations. The calibrated model was further applied to explore the effects of changes in vegetation pattern in response to various inflows and TP loadings on the water column P concentrations and soil P storage. Improved treatment effectiveness was found when areal vegetation coverage was complete, with emergent and submerged vegetation in upstream and downstream treatment cells, respectively. This reduced the average outlet TP concentration 60%, from 35.9 ppb under existing operational conditions to 14.5 ppb. Similar reductions () in outlet TP concentration were also obtained by further reducing hydraulic and TP loadings after five years of operation. The modeling approach and findings of this study could be of interest to water managers and the wetland modeling community.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the United States Geological Survey and the South Florida Water Management District. Special thanks to Dr. Andrew I. James, the primary developer of the transport and reaction simulation code. The authors thank to Drs. Michael Chimney and Naiming Wang of SFWMD for providing topographic and vegetation data. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Everglades Foundation.
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Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22 • Issue 1 • January 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 25, 2014
Accepted: Feb 22, 2016
Published online: May 5, 2016
Discussion open until: Oct 5, 2016
Published in print: Jan 1, 2017
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