Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS33 Human Impacts and Activities on Riverine Ecosystems (Science and Society Connections)

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 11:15:00 AM

Location: Galisteo

Carrubba, L, , Panzardi-ERM, Inc., Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, lcarrubba@panzardierm.com

WATERSHED MODELING OF NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANT TRANSPORT USING NPSM

The Nonpoint Source Model (NPSM) contained within the Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) tool was chosen for modeling within the Driftwood Creek watershed, White River Basin, Indiana. Uncalibrated and calibrated model runs were performed for the period 1/1/1990 through 12/31/1992 and a validation run for the period from 1/1/1993 through 12/31/1995. Least squares regression values of NPSM predicted flows versus USGS gauge data were 0.75 for the calibration run and 0.71 for the validation run. Nash Sutcliffe values were not as strong measuring 0.45 for the calibrated run and 0.31 for the validation run. Uncalibrated runs of NPSM demonstrated that calibration is a necessary step in the use of the model. In addition, the use of parameter values from other studies, while a good starting point, does not yield good model predictions. This is important because it means that NPSM cannot be applied to ungauged rural basins, or any basins without data available for parameter estimation, with the objective of accurately simulating constituent transport to streams or developing management strategies.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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