Coosa River Modeling Project
The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recently initiated
a major three-year study, including two years of intensive data
gathering and one year of advanced water quality modeling, to reassess
current Coosa River and Lake Weiss TMDLs, and to lay the foundation
for future regulatory decisions in this river basin. The study
will be conducted as a cooperative effort by the US EPA Region
4 (EPA), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
and the EPD, with EPD's efforts focused mainly on waters in Georgia.
Stakeholder involvement will be an indispensable part of this
process. We therefore intend for this web page to serve as a bulletin
board for all those interested in periodic updates on current happenings.
Accordingly, the contents should grow as the project evolves starting
with initial field study plans and progressing to include current
field data and other activities being performed. Your suggestions
about its content will be appreciated. The paragraphs below provide
more specific background on this effort.
In 2003, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD)
developed a Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
for a segment of the Coosa River from Georgia Highway 100 downstream
to the State Line. The TMDL was developed using the one-dimensional
hydrodynamic water quality model, EPD RIV-1. Many stakeholders
expressed concerns regarding the draft TMDL, indicating a need
for additional fieldwork and modeling to address these issues fully.
In January 2004, the Coosa River DO TMDL was revised and finalized,
using the EPD RIV-1 model to meet water quality standards at Georgia
Highway 100. The TMDL recommended that additional work be done
on the river model and that a lake model be developed for the lower
portion of the Coosa River system from Mayo's Bar to the Lake Weiss
dam. This promoted an integrated basin management approach with
linkages between the Coosa River model and the Lake Weiss model.
The specific purpose of the Coosa River Modeling Project is to
evaluate oxygen demanding loads, nutrient loads, and heat loads
on instream dissolved oxygen concentrations. During 2005 and 2006,
data will be collected to calibrate and validate the existing water
quality model of the Coosa River. These data will then be used
in 2007 to refine the TMDL for DO prepared by the GAEPD. The Field
Study Plan is composed of eight coordinated modules. Follow the
links below for an overview of the work planned for 2006, followed
by specific details on each individual module. Study Plans from
other Agencies will be posted when available.
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