Trinity River Vision Operations Water Quality Model

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new regional wastewater treatment plant, Plummer assisted the NTMWD in developing a QUAL-TX model and a plan for collecting field measurements of stream geometry and flowrates. The water quality objectives were coordinated with other aspects of the project, including flood control. Initial model development included extensive analysis of water quality data followed by calibration of the model to the existing Clear Fork Trinity River/West Fork Trinity River system.

A second phase of the project included adapting the model to the future system, which includes an adjustable water level control dam, a bypass channel, and isolation gates that control flows in and out of the inner channels. Plummer used the future system model to predict water quality impacts from operational strategies, such as allowing various storm flowrates into the inner channels, “tidal” operation of the water level control dam, recirculation of water through the inner channels, isolation gate operations, and removing Nutt Dam from the inner channels.