Surface-water quality and flow Modeling Interest Group

Calibration and Validation of a Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model of the Ohio River, Jefferson County, Kentucky

by Chad R. Wagner and David S. Mueller

 U.S. Geological Survey
 9818 Bluegrass Parkway
 Louisville, KY 40299
 Internet: cwagner@usgs.gov, dmueller@usgs.gov
 Phone: (502) 493-1912, (502) 493-1935
 FAX: (502) 493-1909

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Printed copies of this USGS report may be obtained by contacting
  U.S. Geological Survey
  Branch of Information Services
  Box 25286
  Denver, CO 80225-0286

Citation:
Wagner, C.R. and Mueller, D.S., 2001, Calibration and validation of a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the Ohio River, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4091, 33 p.

Abstract

The quantification of current patterns is an essential component of a Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP) application in a riverine environment. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided a field validated two-dimensional Resource Management Associates-2 (RMA-2) hydrodynamic model capable of quantifying the steady-flow patterns in the Ohio River extending from river mile 590 to 630 for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) water-quality modeling efforts on that reach. Because of the hydrodynamic complexities induced by McAlpine Locks and Dam (Ohio River mile 607), the model was split into two segments: an upstream reach, which extended from the dam upstream to the upper terminus of the study reach at Ohio River mile 590; and a downstream reach, which extended from the dam downstream to a lower terminus at Ohio River mile 636. The model was calibrated to a low-flow hydraulic survey (approximately 35,000 cubic feet per second (ft³/s)) and verified with data collected during a high-flow survey (approximately 390,000 ft³/s). The model calibration and validation process included matching water-surface elevations at 10 locations and velocity profiles at 30 cross sections throughout the study reach. Based on the calibration and validation results, the model is a representative simulation of the Ohio River steady-flow patterns below discharges of approximately 400,000 ft³/s.

Map of study area -- Ohio River near Jefferson County, Kentucky

Download the complete report [PDF, 6.0 Mb].

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