Development of a Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Model for the Dominguez Channel Estuary

The Dominguez Channel Estuary is part of a complex circulation system that includes the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbors (Harbor) within San Pedro Bay, California. As part of the TMDL development process, this study was conducted to develop a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model (DCEM) that can accurately predict pollutant transport through the Dominguez Channel Estuary and into the Harbor. A field program was implemented to collect sufficient data to calibrate and verify the DCEM for water levels, velocity, salinity, dye, TSS, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc under dry and wet weather conditions. An iterative, layered approach was developed to calibrate the DCEM that involved evaluating the model grid design and the selection of initial conditions, boundary conditions, transport model parameters, and water quality model parameters.