During Unsteady-Flow Conditions, 1977 and 2003-04 Nustad and Bales– Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Simulation of Constituent Transport in the Red River of the Simulation of Constituent Transport in the Red River of the North Basin, NorthDakota and Minnesota, North Basin, North Dakota and Minnesota, During Unsteady- Flow Conditions, 1977 and 2003-04 –ScientificInvestigations Report 2006–5296 Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5296 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Simulation of Constituent Transport in the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota and Minnesota, During Unsteady-Flow Conditions, 1977 and 2003-04 By Rochelle A. Nustad and Jerad D. Bales Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5296 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. iii Contents Abstract. 1 Introduction . 2 Purpose and Scope . 2 Study Area. 2 Acknowledgments. 5 Methods . 5 Simulation of Constituent Transport. 8 Model Implementation . 8 Computational Grid . 8 Boundary Conditions . 8 Streamflow . 8 Water Quality . 13 Model Calibration and Testing . 13 Streamflow. 13 Water Quality. 19 Model Testing . 31 Model Application. 33 Effects of Water-Supply Alternatives on Total Dissolved Solids, Sulfate, Chloride, Sodium, and Total Phosphorus. 37 Model Limitations . 52 Summary. 54 References. 58 Figures 1. Map showing locations of sites used in study. .3 2. Diagram showing schematic of Red River model . .9 3. Graphs showing measured and simulated streamflows for selected Red River model calibration points, 2003 and 2004 calibration periods. 20 4. Graphs showing measured and simulated total dissolved solids concentrations for selected Red River model calibration points for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods. 27 5. Graphs showing measured and simulated dissolved sulfate concentrations for selected Red River model calibration points for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods. 28 6. Graphs showing measured and simulated dissolved chloride concentrations for selected Red River model calibration points for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods. 29 7. Graphs showing measured and simulated dissolved sodium concentrations for selected Red River model calibration points for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods . 30 8. Graphs showing measured and simulated total phosphorus concentrations for selected Red River model calibration points for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods . 32 9. Graph showing simulated total dissolved solids concentrations for the Red River of the North at Fargo, North Dakota, for three sets of boundary conditions . 33 iv Figures, Continued 10. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Red River of the North at river mile 536.3 immediately downstream from the Wahpeton Industrial return flow, 1976-77 simulation period . 38 11. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Red River of the North at Fargo, North Dakota, 1976-77 simulation period . 40 12. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Red River of the North at Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1976-77 simulation period. 42 13. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba, 1976-77 simulation period . 44 14. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, North Dakota, 1976-77 simulation period. 46 15. Graphs showing simulated annual concentration distribution of daily mean concentrations for the Red River of the North at West Fargo, North Dakota, 1976-77 simulation period. 48 Tables 1. Description of water-supply alternatives for Red River Valley Water-Supply Project . .4 2. Data-collection network. .6 3. Streamflow summaries for selected sites for 2003 and 2004 calibration periods and for 1976-77 simulation period . .7 4. Boundary condition and flow/water-quality calibration points for Red River model . ..