Omni Environmental Omni Environmental FINAL REPORT The Non-Tidal Passaic River Basin Nutrient TMDL Study Phase II Watershed Model and TMDL Calculations WANAQUE RI VER RAM APO RI VER PEQ UAN NO CK RIVER % % % PO M PTO N RI VER ROCKAWAY RI VER % % % DUNDEE DAM % WHIPPANY RIVER % PA SSA I C RI VER % % GREAT BRO O K % BLACK BRO O K DEAD RI VER Prepared for: Rutgers University New Jersey EcoComplex and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Watershed Management February 23, 2007 Research Park • 321 Wall Street • Princeton, NJ 08540 Tel: 609-924-8821 • Fax: 609-924-8831 www.Omni-Env.com Phase II Non-Tidal Passaic River Basin Nutrient TMDL Omni Environmental Final Report – February 23, 2007 Table of Contents PAGE I. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 I.A. Integrated List of Waterbodies................................................................................ 1 I.B. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) .................................................................... 3 I.C. Non-Tidal Passaic River Basin TMDL Process...................................................... 3 I.D. Pollutant of Concern ............................................................................................... 5 I.E. Area of Interest ....................................................................................................... 8 I.F. Applicable Surface Water Quality Standards ....................................................... 15 II. Watershed Model Development ....................................................................................... 16 II.A. Watershed Model Purpose and Objectives ........................................................... 16 II.B. Watershed Model Overview................................................................................. 16 II.C. Spatial and Temporal Extent................................................................................. 19 II.D. Flow Model........................................................................................................... 21 II.D.1. Stream Network Setup................................................................................. 22 II.D.2. Sub-Basin Delineation................................................................................. 25 II.D.3. Model Inputs................................................................................................ 26 II.D.4. Model Outputs............................................................................................. 31 II.D.5. Cross-sectional Parameter Calibration ........................................................ 31 II.E. Water Quality Model ............................................................................................ 39 II.E.1. Stream Network Setup................................................................................. 40 II.E.2. Model Inputs................................................................................................ 41 II.E.2.a. Flow .............................................................................................. 41 II.E.2.b. Water Quality................................................................................ 42 II.E.2.c. Loads............................................................................................. 52 II.E.2.d. Model Parameters and Time Series .............................................. 63 II.E.3. Model Outputs............................................................................................. 71 II.F. Model Integration..................................................................................................74 II.F.1. Critical Issues...............................................................................................74 II.F.1.a. Model Solution Scheme................................................................ 74 II.F.1.b. Model Consistency........................................................................79 II.F.2. Watershed Model Integration Tool.............................................................. 80 II.F.2.a. WAMIT Algorithms ..................................................................... 81 II.G. Model Sensitivity Tests......................................................................................... 86 II.G.1. Time Step..................................................................................................... 86 II.G.2. Dispersion and Transport Time Scale.......................................................... 88 II.G.3. Input Time Series Resolution ...................................................................... 91 II.G.4. Mass Transport – Simulation of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).................. 92 II.H. Model Calibration and Validation ........................................................................ 94 II.H.1. Phosphorus................................................................................................. 100 II.H.2. Ammonia ................................................................................................... 106 II.H.3. Nitrate ........................................................................................................ 108 II.H.4. Dissolved Oxygen...................................................................................... 109 II.H.5. Chlorophyll-a............................................................................................. 116 i Phase II Non-Tidal Passaic River Basin Nutrient TMDL Omni Environmental Final Report – February 23, 2007 Table of Contents PAGE III. Watershed Modeling Analyses ....................................................................................... 119 III.A. Seasonal Variation and Critical Conditions........................................................ 119 III.B. Model Scenarios.................................................................................................. 119 III.B.1. Existing Condition..................................................................................... 119 III.B.2. Baseline Future Condition ......................................................................... 120 III.B.3. Most Extreme Reduced Phosphorus Condition......................................... 125 III.C. Phosphorus Source Assessment.......................................................................... 126 III.D. Impact of Permitted Phosphorus Loads .............................................................. 131 III.E. Impact of Extreme Phosphorus Reductions........................................................ 135 III.E.1. Upper and Mid-Passaic River Mainstem................................................... 137 III.E.2. Lower Passaic River Mainstem ................................................................. 139 III.E.3. Dead River, Singac Brook, Peckman River............................................... 143 III.E.4. Whippany and Rockaway Rivers............................................................... 149 III.E.5. Wanaque, Pequannock, and Pompton Rivers............................................ 151 III.F. Sensitivity Analyses............................................................................................ 154 III.F.1. No Kinetics................................................................................................ 154 III.F.2. No CSOs.................................................................................................... 156 III.F.3. Tributary Baseflow and Passaic River Headwater Phosphorus Concentrations .......................................................................................................... 157 III.F.4. Nonpoint Source Reductions ..................................................................... 158 III.G. Summary............................................................................................................. 159 IV. Watershed-Specific Criteria............................................................................................ 161 IV.A. Critical Locations................................................................................................ 163 IV.B. End Points........................................................................................................... 165 IV.B.1. Wanaque Reservoir.................................................................................... 166 IV.B.2. Passaic River Upstream Dundee Dam (“Dundee Lake”) .......................... 166 V. TMDL Calculations........................................................................................................ 170 V.A. Reserve Capacity and Margin of Safety ............................................................. 170 V.B. Target Condition ................................................................................................. 172 V.C. Loading Capacity................................................................................................ 175 V.D. Allocations .......................................................................................................... 177 VI. Conclusions..................................................................................................................... 183 VII. References....................................................................................................................... 187 ii Phase II Non-Tidal Passaic River Basin Nutrient TMDL Omni Environmental Final Report – February 23, 2007 List of Tables PAGE TABLE