Watershed and Reservoir Response Models for the Occoquan Reservoir

by Stuart Stein,
Jennifer Kilgore,
Kamal Saffarinia,
Normand Goulet,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: WRPMD'99: Preparing for the 21st Century

Abstract:

(No paper) The Occoquan Reservoir serves as a primary water supply for over 800,000 Virginians in the Washington (DC) Metropolitan area. The Occoquan Watershed is approximately 560 square miles and resides in multiple jurisdictions. As the area continues to grow - it already contains 25 percent of the entire population of Virginia - the accompanying human influences threaten the water supply. This paper will present the calibrated simulation tools being developed to assist the local jurisdictions in fostering responsible growth and protecting the quality of drinking water for a large population. The models being used are EPA's HSPF to simulate watershed processes (quality and quantity of runoff) and the Army Corps of Engineers' CE-QUAL-W2 to simulate vertically-stratified hydrodynamics and pollutant fate and transport within the reservoir. The models will be linked so that inflow quantity and quality from the watershed model form input to the reservoir model. The project includes training for the local jurisdictions and significant local input into strategic uses for the model. The overall goal of the models is to provide a better decision-making tool so that available resources can be focused on assuring the longterm integrity of the reservoir as a water supply, habitat, and recreational resource.

Subject Headings: Reservoirs | Watersheds | Simulation models | Water supply | Water quality | Jurisdiction | Water-based recreation | Virginia | United States

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