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Applying Gis and Swat to Understand the Stream Network, Hydrology, Sediment and Nutrient Export from the Grand River Watershed Into Lake Erie

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Applying Gis and Swat to Understand the Stream Network, Hydrology, Sediment and Nutrient Export from the Grand River Watershed Into Lake Erie APPLYING GIS AND SWAT TO UNDERSTAND THE STREAM NETWORK, HYDROLOGY, SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT EXPORT FROM THE GRAND RIVER WATERSHED INTO LAKE ERIE by Aslam Hanief Associate Degree Geological Engineering, University of Guyana, 1999 Associate Degree Biology, University of Guyana, 2005 B.Sc. Biology, University of Guyana, 2007 M.Sc. Molecular Science, Ryerson, 2011 A dissertation presented to Ryerson University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the program of Environmental Applied Science and Management Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2017 ©Aslam Hanief, 2017 Author's Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this dissertation. This is a true copy of the dissertation, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I authorize Ryerson University to lend this dissertation to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. I further authorize Ryerson University to reproduce this dissertation by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. I understand that my dissertation may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract APPLYING GIS AND SWAT TO UNDERSTAND THE STREAM NETWORK, HYDROLOGY, SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT EXPORT FROM THE GRAND RIVER WATERSHED INTO LAKE ERIE Doctor of Philosophy 2017 Aslam Hanief Environmental Applied Science and Management Ryerson University Headwater streams are important lotic systems that represent more than 80% of the total stream lengths in watersheds. The dynamic coupling of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in headwaters is responsible for regulating the chemical form, residence time and longitudinal transport of nutrients. Over time, stream modification (e.g. to enhance drainage in agricultural watershed) has altered natural stream flow-paths and thus, stream functionality. Such alteration has resulted in degradation of habitat and water quality, both in upland and downstream waters. Currently, nutrients exported from the Grand River (Ontario) watershed are contributing to eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie. With respect to the Grand River watershed, this thesis examined (1) the impact of agriculture on the existing stream network, (2) the utility of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to simulate hydrology, sediment and nutrient export that closely correlate with measured data, and (3) the application of Best Management Practices in the watershed with the intent of meeting provincial and transnational nutrient targets. The results showed that compared to the actual ground-truthed stream network, the predicted stream network based on topography underpredicted a total of 2,535 km of actual channel present in the watershed. Channels not anticipated by topography were mostly first-order, with low sinuosity, and were most common in areas with high agricultural land use, and are likely excavated iii extensions to headwater streams to facilitate drainage. Then, the sediment and nutrient loading at Dunnville, discharging to entering Lake Erie, was predicted to be 2.3 105 t yr-1 of total suspended sediment, 7.9 103 t yr-1 of total nitrogen, and 2.5 102 t yr-1 of total phosphorus. Finally, implementing wide buffer strips, stabilizing channel banks and grassed waterways were found to be the most effective practices for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading into Lake Erie. iv Acknowledgements My sincere gratitude is extended to my committee members – Drs. Vadim Bostan, Andrew Millward and Andrew Laursen for their guidance and support throughout this research. Learning and keeping it all together can be quite challenging at times. However, these challenges were met with ease due to the kind understanding and flexible nature of my very thoughtful and caring supervisor, Dr. Laursen. He is truly a rock for all his students to rely on. My family has never wavered in their support of my pursuits. To all of them, my mom, sister, extended family and my brilliant wife, I say from the bottom of my heart, your kindness and assistance will never be forgotten. And I cannot forget to say thank you to all my friends, especially Karen Puddephatt. Karen has been just the right kind of friend whom I will forever appreciate. v Table of Contents Author's Declaration ................................................................................................................................. ii Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... xii List of Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................xiii 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Perspective on Streams and Land Use Modifications ......................................................................... 1 1.1.1 The Role of Headwater Streams .................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Agriculture and the Landscape .................................................................................................... 2 1.1.3 Agriculture and Stream Modification .......................................................................................... 3 1.1.4 Agriculture and Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Use of Models and Application of Geographic Information System in Modelling: ............................ 8 1.2.1 Historical Perspective of the Use of Models and Modelling ........................................................ 8 1.2.2 GIS and Nutrient Modelling ....................................................................................................... 10 1.2.3 The Grand River Basin (GRB), Southwestern Ontario ................................................................ 15 1.3 The Bigger Picture ............................................................................................................................. 19 1.4 Research Questions and Objectives .................................................................................................. 21 2. SWAT modeling of hydrology, and sediment and nutrients export into Lake Erie from the Grand River, Ontario .............................................................................................................................................. 23 2.1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 24 2.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.1 Study Site ................................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.2 Model Structure ......................................................................................................................... 29 2.3.3 Model Construction and Run ..................................................................................................... 33 2.3.4 Sources and Preparation of SWAT Model Input Data ................................................................ 33 2.3.5 Sensitivity Analysis, Calibration, Validation and Uncertainty Analysis ...................................... 38 2.4 Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 40 2.4.1 Watershed and HRU delineation ............................................................................................... 40 2.4.2 Water Balance ............................................................................................................................ 40 vi 2.4.3 Stream Flow ............................................................................................................................... 42 2.4.4 Sediment (TSS) and Nutrient Simulation ................................................................................... 50 2.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 55 3. Modeling the natural drainage network of the Grand River, southern Ontario based on digital elevation models: agriculture may increase total channel length of low-order streams........................... 56 3.1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 57 3.2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
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