Simulation of flow and water quality of the Arroyo Colorado, Texas, 1989-99
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Abstract
A model parameter set for use with the Hydrological Simulation Program—FORTRAN watershed model was developed to simulate flow and water quality for selected properties and constituents for the Arroyo Colorado from the city of Mission to the Laguna Madre, Texas. The model simulates flow, selected water-quality properties, and constituent concentrations. The model can be used to estimate a total maximum daily load for selected properties and constituents in the Arroyo Colorado. The model was calibrated and tested for flow with data measured during 1989–99 at three streamflow-gaging stations. The errors for total flow volume ranged from -0.1 to 29.0 percent, and the errors for total storm volume ranged from -15.6 to 8.4 percent. The model was calibrated and tested for water quality for seven properties and constituents with 1989–99 data. The model was calibrated sequentially for suspended sediment, water temperature, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and orthophosphate. The simulated concentrations of the selected properties and constituents generally matched the measured concentrations available for the calibration and testing periods. The model was used to simulate total point- and nonpoint-source loads for selected properties and constituents for 1989–99 for urban, natural, and agricultural land-use types. About one-third to one-half of the biochemical oxygen demand and nutrient loads are from urban point and nonpoint sources, although only 13 percent of the total land use in the basin is urban.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Simulation of flow and water quality of the Arroyo Colorado, Texas, 1989-99 |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2002-4110 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri024110 |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | Texas Water Science Center |
| Description | HTML Document; Report: iv, 56 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Other Geospatial | Arroyo Colorado |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |