Enhanced Estimation of Terrestrial Loadings for TMDLs: Normalization Approach
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 136, Issue 3
Abstract
The effective implementation of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) usually requires that relationships between terrestrial contaminant loadings and instream concentrations be estimated using deterministic fate and transport (DFT) models. The limitations of using conventional DFT models are that model predictions do not converge to observations as source loadings approach their calibrated values, and model-prediction errors are not explicitly included in the model output. A normalization approach is proposed that yields an accurate convergence to observations and can explicitly account for prediction errors. The proposed approach is demonstrated using field data collected at the Little River Experimental Watershed in Georgia, where source-load reductions are related to the confidence of compliance with a water-quality standard.
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Acknowledgments
Professor George Vellidis of the University of Georgia generously allowed us to use the FC data collected under his supervision. Tom Jobes of the Saint John’s Water Management District, Fla., patiently provided advice on using HSPF, and Kate Flynn of USGS provided advice on using HSPEXP. Gary Feyereisen of USDA ARS in University Park, Pa., provided essential insight into previous studies of the Little River Experimental Watershed.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 136 • Issue 3 • May 2010
Pages: 357 - 365
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 7, 2008
Accepted: Jun 29, 2009
Published online: Apr 15, 2010
Published in print: May 2010
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