Water Quality Research Group
Water Quality Research Group Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
The Research Group The Water Quality Research Group is involved in using the water quality model CE‐QUAL‐W2 to help resource managers address competing needs for water resources in surface water systems. We are also responsible for maintaining the model code and providing model enhancements as needs change. We host an annual workshop to train professionals within the U. S. and internationally on how to use the model and address the application needs. We work with local, regional, national and international agencies on a variety of water quality projects.
The Model CE‐QUAL‐W2 is a 2‐dimensional (longitudinal‐vertical) hydrodynamic and water quality model for rivers, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and river basin systems. W2 models basic eutrophication processes such as temperature‐nutrient‐algae‐dissolved oxygen‐organic matter and sediment relationships. The current release of model is Version 3.5. The model is a public domain model available for download. See http://www.cee.pdx.edu/w2
CE‐QUAL‐W2 applications, world‐wide Known Number of Water body Applications Reservoirs 319+ Lakes 287+ Rivers 436+ Estuaries 82+ Pit Lakes 10+ Countries 116
The People Scott Wells ‐ Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PSU. His research areas are in modeling of environmental fluid mechanics: surface water quality and hydrodynamics and solid‐liquid separation processes. He has written over 100 technical publications.
Chris Berger – Senior Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PSU. He has been involved in the development of water quality models for the Tualatin River, Columbia Slough, Willamette River, Cooper Creek Reservoir, Oregon; Wahiawa Reservoir, Hawaii; Spokane River, Washington; and the Snake River, Idaho.
Robert Annear ‐ Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PSU. He has been involved in water quality modeling studies of surface systems in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California such as Bull Run, Columbia Slough, Siletz Bay, Yaquina Bay, Spokane, Pend Oreille and the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
Mike McKillip ‐ Graduate Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PSU. Previous modeling work included the Willamette River, Oregon. His current work focuses on modeling Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake for the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The existing ‘W2’ water quality model is being coupled with fish bioenergetics models as part of a collaborative effort with the University of Washington.
Other undergraduate, graduate and high school students: Dmitry Bashkatov, Nick Wagner‐Noble, Sam Gould, Vanessa Wells, and others.
Current Projects The water quality research group has completed almost 100 different water body studies. Below are a few of the projects that we are working on now.
• The Columbia Slough, Oregon is a 19‐mile Surface Water long water system of lakes, channels, and Studies in the wetlands which enjoys recreation and Pacific Northwest fishing amidst water quality concerns. • The Spokane River, Washington and Idaho. The model has been applied from the outlet of Lake Coeur d’Alene to the outlet of Long Lake, over 70 miles to address water quality concerns. • Lake Roosevelt, located in northeastern Washington, supports a $5‐20 billion dollar fishery, irrigates 550,000 acres, and powers Seattle six times over. • Waldo Lake lies high in the central Oregon Cascade Mountains, surrounded by the Willamette National Forest, is the of the clearest lake in North America, but recently is losing some water clarity. • Lake Whatcom is a large natural lake next to the city of Bellingham, Washington. This 10 miles long lake adjoins a rapidly developing community, and everyone wants to retain the lake’s beauty and water quality conditions. • Pend Oreille River, Washington and Idaho. Located in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington the Pend Oreille will be modeled from the outlet of Lake Pend Oreille to the Box Canyon Dam to investigate management alternatives for improving water quality and river temperatures. • South Fork Tolt Reservoir, Washington. The reservoir serves as one of the primary drinking water supply reservoirs for the City of Seattle, WA. Located in the Cascade Mountains the surrounding rivers serve at salmonid habitat. The city is interested in better managing the system for temperature and turbidity.
Current Sponsors City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services Washington Department of Ecology Clackamas River Water Management Group U. S. Forest Service Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Seattle Public Utilities
Past Sponsors and Partners Avista Utilities Middle Fork Hood River Irrigation District Chelan Public Utility District National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration City of Honolulu Oregon Department of Environmental Quality City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services Pacific Gas and Electric Company City of Portland, Portland Water Bureau Pacificorp City of Tampa Portland General Electric City of Toledo Puget Sound Energy Clackamas County, Water Environment Services Spokane Tribe of Indians Columbia River Inter‐Tribal Fish Commission Technion University Colville Confederated Tribes Tulalip Tribes Duke Power U. S. Corps of Engineers, Portland District Geological Survey of Israel U. S. Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiments Station Hebrew University U. S. Bureau of Land Management HDR, Inc. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation HyQual U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Idaho Department of Environmental Quality U. S. Forest Service Idaho Power Company U. S. Geologic Survey Karuk Tribe Ukraine Institute Water Quality King County, WA Washington Department of Ecology Lincoln City, OR Mekerot Water Company, Israel