Contaminated Sediment Transport in the Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor: Incorporating Propeller-Induced Re-Suspension of Sediment

The Dominguez channel and Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor waters toxic pollutants total maximum daily loads was developed to attain water quality standards and protect beneficial uses in San Pedro Bay, California. Waters of the LA/LB harbor and greater San Pedro Bay are listed as impaired by heavy metals and organic pollutants in sediment and/or or fish tissue. The harbor toxics TMDL specifies waste load allocations and load allocations to limit the discharge of metals and bioaccumulative organic pollutants. A scientifically-sound basis of the TMDL requires a calibrated model capable of simulating the complex three-dimensional (3D) flows, sediment transport, and chemical fate throughout the LA/LB harbor. Since the combined Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles is the busiest port in the United States, thousands of vessels of various types and sizes visit the harbor every year. The re-suspension of contaminated sediment in the bed can be a source of contaminants to the harbor water. This paper presents the incorporation of propeller induced re-suspension of sediment and associated contaminants into the 3D sediment and chemical fate model developed for the LA/LB harbor for the TMDLs.