Projects / Surface Water Management
Corkscrew Swamp Watershed Hydrologic Modeling Project
The development of a hydrologic model was requested to assist Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (CSS) in understanding factors that have led to decreased wetland hydroperiods in the Sanctuary. CSS is an ecologic relic of Old Florida and protects the largest remaining old-growth bald cypress swamp in the world. A 60-year record of daily water level measurements revealed substantial changes in Corkscrew Swamp’s hydrology as agricultural and residential development have grown to dominate the landscape surrounding the Sanctuary.
- CLIENT
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary(sub-consultant to WSA, Inc.)
- YEAR
- 2019-2020
- APPLIED SKILLS
- Integrated Modeling: Model updates & improvements
Model calibration
Scenario evaluations - CONSULTING AREAS
- Surface water management
Wetland conservation and restoration - SOFTWARE
- MIKE SHE/MIKE 11, ArcMap, and LAGO Toolbox.
Specifics
In collaboration to WSA, a higher resolution MIKE SHE/MIKE 11 model was built around the CCS. Updated model inputs included rainfall, reference ET, topography, landuse coverage, irrigation coverage and rates, flow paths and surface water structures, hydrogeological parameters, and observation data from surface and groundwater monitoring stations.
During model calibration, reported irrigation from large agriculture operations were used to adjust model irrigation parameters. Also, the hydraulic conductivities were adjusted by using a proprietary tool (Adjust dfs2 file) to better match the observation data.
Outcome
The updated and recalibrated model was used to evaluate a number of scenarios with the objective of providing direction for future analyses and formulation of restoration plans to improve wetland hydroperiods and enhanced functions of within this the unique ecologic resources of the Sanctuary.