Hydrologic Characterization of Goodwin Creek

Basic Project Information:

Principal Investigators:

Focus Categories

The Demonstration Erosion Control (DEC) Project is a comprehensive program that provides for the development of a system for control of sediment, erosion, and flooding in the hill areas of the Yazoo River Basin, Mississippi. Goodwin Creek is a tributary of Long Creek that flows into one of the primary tributaries of the Yazoo River. Goodwin Creek is extensively gauged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as a facility for research of upland erosion, instream sediment transport, and watershed hydrology. The watershed is divided into 14 subcatchments with a flow-measuring flume at each of the drainage outlets.

The research potential of the Goodwin Creek watershed, and the capacity to investigate the temporal characteristics of the water sediment transported throughout the basin provide an excellent opportunity to conduct research.

Problem and Research Objectives

The Demonstration Erosion Control (DEC) Project is a comprehensive program that provides for the development of a system fro control of sediment, erosion, and flooding in the hill areas of the Yazoo River Bain, Mississippi. Goodwill Creak is a tributary of Long Creek that flows into one of the primary tributaries of the Yazoo River. Goodwin Creek is extensively gauged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) and the Agricultural research Service (ARS) as a facility for research of upland erosion, instream sediment transport, and watershed hydrology. The watershed is divided into 14 subcatchments with a flow measuring flume at each of the drainage outlets.

The Puerto Rico Water and Environmental Research Institute received a grant from the USACOE to prepare and calibrate a hydrologic model for Goodwin Creek. The model will use the existing gage information at sixteen locations inside the watershed and develop a detailed examination of the stage/flow frequency and duration relationships for the watershed data. This is the first phase of a comprehensive study that includes sediment yield analysis and development of hydraulic structures and other methods for practical sediment yield reduction.

The Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute received a grant from the USACOE to prepare and calibrate a hydrologic model for Goodwin Creek. The model will use the existing gage information at sixteen locations inside the watershed and develop a detailed examination of the stage/flow frequency and duration relationships for the watershed data. This is the first phase of a comprehensive study that includes sediment yield analysis and development of hydraulic structures and other methods for practical sediment yield reduction.

The project began in early October 1999 and is scheduled to be completed on December 2000. The principal investigator is Dr. Walter F. Silva-Araya from the Department of General Engineering of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (UPRM). In charge of the statistical analysis of the hydrologic data is Dr. Rafael Segarra-Garcia from the Department of Civil Engineering, UPRM. One graduate student is also currently working on the project.

During December 6 to 9, 1999, the researchers and the Director of the PRWRERI, Dr. Rivera-Santos, visited the Goodwin Creek basin in Mississippi with the goals of getting familiarized with the basin and all of the instruments installed in it. Dr. David Biedernharn from WES and Dr. Chester Watson from Colorado State University accompanied the researchers from Mayaguez during the visit. In addition, during this trip, the team visited the Sedimentology Research National Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (SRNL-ARS-USDA). The purpose of this visit was to meet with personnel from SRNL-ARS to discuss the possibility of obtaining information previously collected by them in relation to the Goodwin Creek Basin. Other topics discussed were the development of collaborative projects with SRNL researchers and the possibility of summer internships for students.

In a meeting with Dr. Sam Wang, director of the Hydrodynamic Calculus Center (HCC) at the University of Mississippi at Oxford, he was interviewed about the development of two and three dimensional hydraulic models for the prediction of the geomorphologic changes in river channels. HCC is willing to provide access to the programs to be tested by UPRM researchers during this research.

This project also provides the opportunity for a graduate student to visit the Goodwin Creek watershed and the SRNL to obtain data relevant to the project and to familiarize herself with the SRNL activities. Several hydrologic models, including WMS and HEC-HMS are been considered at present as candidates to help in the hydrologic characterization of Goodwin Creek.

Methodology

Three researchers and one graduate student visited the Goodwin Creek basin of Mississippi with the goals of getting familiarized with the basin and all of the instruments installed in it. In addition, during this trip, the team visited the Sedimentology Research National Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (SRNL-ARS-USDA). The purpose of this visit was to meet with personnel from SRNL-AAA to discuss the possibility of obtaining information previously collected by them in relation to the Goodwin Creek Basin.

Hydrologic, hydraulic, sediment and geographical data was collected to be used as basin information for the development of hydrologic models for Goodwin Creek.

Several Hydrologic models, including WMS and HEC-HMS are being considered at present as candidates. The final product will be a practical model that provides data to be used in hydraulic and sediment transport models for the same watershed. This project provided the opportunity for faculty members and students to receive an intensive 30 hrs course in River Mechanics offered by an expert from Colorado State University.

Principal Findings and Significance

The project is in the phase of data acquisition and selection of hydrologic models. Information was retrieved from the Waterways Experimental Station and the Sediment Laboratory. Data processing and selection is undergoing now. The research potential of the Goodwin Creek watershed, and the capacity to investigate the temporal characteristics of the water sediment transported throughout the basin provide an excellent opportunity to conduct research in this area.

This project served to establish new contacts with personnel from the US Corps of Engineers and the Agriculture Research Laboratory. It opened new horizons to strengthen the collaborative relations with these institutions.

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