Suisun Marsh Tidal Marsh and Aquatic Habitats Conceptual Model Chapter 1: Physical Processes FINAL REVIEW DRAFT 15 September 2010 Suisun Marsh Habitat Management, Restoration and Preservation Plan Primary Author: Stuart Siegel, WWR Major Contributing Authors: Chris Enright, DWR Christina Toms, WWR Additional Contributing Authors: Cassandra Enos, DWR, Jesse Sutherland, DWR FINAL REVIEW DRAFT Chapter 1: Physical Processes / Suisun Marsh Plan Tidal Marsh and Aquatic Habitats Conceptual Model Table of Contents 1 PHYSICAL PROCESSES ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 General Description of Suisun Marsh and Bay ............................................................................................ 2 1.1.1 Setting within the San Francisco Bay‐Delta Estuary ................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Land Uses Within and Around Suisun Marsh and Bay ................................................................................ 3 1.1.3 Bathymetry of Aquatic Environment .......................................................................................................... 9 1.1.4 Topography of Tidal and Diked Managed Marsh ..................................................................................... 10 1.2 Hydrologic Drivers .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.1 Tides ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2 Delta Outflow ........................................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.3 Local Watershed ....................................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.4 Wastewater Treatment Plant ................................................................................................................... 19 1.2.5 Managed Wetlands .................................................................................................................................. 19 1.3 Meteorological Drivers ............................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.1 Wind forcing ............................................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.2 Evaporation .............................................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.3 Barometric pressure ................................................................................................................................. 21 1.4 Conceptual Model of Transport Processes as Controls on Ecosystem Functions of Suisun Marsh ............... 21 1.5 Salinity ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 1.5.1 Salinity regime .......................................................................................................................................... 29 1.5.2 Long‐Term Salinity and Control Structures ............................................................................................... 30 1.6 Sediment ................................................................................................................................................. 32 1.6.1 Delta Sediment Supply to Suisun .............................................................................................................. 33 1.6.2 The Suisun Estuarine Turbidity Maximum ................................................................................................ 35 1.6.3 Wind‐Wave Resuspension and Tidal Transport ........................................................................................ 37 1.6.4 Suspended Sediment and Marsh Persistence .......................................................................................... 39 1.6.5 Suspended Sediment Concentrations Overview ...................................................................................... 40 1.7 Other Water Quality Constituents ............................................................................................................ 44 1.7.1 Temperature ............................................................................................................................................. 44 1.7.2 Dissolved Oxygen ...................................................................................................................................... 45 1.7.3 Organic Matter ......................................................................................................................................... 47 1.8 Contaminants .......................................................................................................................................... 49 1.8.1 Contaminant Sources – Industrial and Commercial Activities .................................................................. 51 1.8.2 Contaminant Sources – Agriculture .......................................................................................................... 51 1.8.3 Contaminant Sources – Mothball Fleet .................................................................................................... 52 1.8.4 Contaminant Sources – Managed and Tidal Wetlands ............................................................................. 53 Ch1_Phys Proc_Suisun TMAq CM_Final Draft_2010-0915sws.docx 1-i FINAL REVIEW DRAFT Chapter 1: Physical Processes / Suisun Marsh Plan Tidal Marsh and Aquatic Habitats Conceptual Model 1.8.5 Mercury .................................................................................................................................................... 53 1.8.6 Organic Compounds ................................................................................................................................. 54 1.8.7 Copper ...................................................................................................................................................... 55 1.8.8 Selenium ................................................................................................................................................... 56 1.9 Future Drivers of Change .......................................................................................................................... 57 1.9.1 Climate Change: Sea Level Rise and Storm Frequency and Intensity ....................................................... 57 1.9.2 Large‐Scale Tidal Restoration in Suisun and the Delta ............................................................................. 59 1.9.3 Land Use Change in the Watershed ......................................................................................................... 59 Ch1_Phys Proc_Suisun TMAq CM_Final Draft_2010-0915sws.docx 1-ii FINAL REVIEW DRAFT Chapter 1: Physical Processes / Suisun Marsh Plan Tidal Marsh and Aquatic Habitats Conceptual Model List of Tables Table 1‐1. Suisun Marsh Acreage by Habitat Type ........................................................................................................ 4 Table 1‐2. Suspended Sediment Data Summary for Suisun Marsh ............................................................................. 41 Table 1‐3. Summary of Climate Change Scenarios: Averages for Mid 21st Century ................................................... 58 List of Figures Figure 1‐1. Overview of Physical Processes Roles in Suisun Marsh and Bay Ecology .................................................... 1 Figure 1‐2. Suisun Marsh Setting within the San Francisco Estuary and Sacramento‐San Joaquin River Delta ............ 3 Figure 1‐3. Suisun Marsh and Bay Habitats ................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 1‐4. Land Uses in Suisun Marsh Planning Region ............................................................................................... 8 Figure 1‐5. Histogram of Suisun Bay and Large Slough Bathmetry ............................................................................... 9 Figure 1‐6. Topography of Suisun Marsh, DWR 2005 LiDAR with 1.5‐foot vegetation modification .......................... 11 Figure 1‐7. Histogram of Diked Lands Topography ..................................................................................................... 12 Figure 1‐8. Diagram of Mixed, Semi‐Diurnal Tides of the San Francisco Estuary ........................................................ 13 Figure 1‐9. San Francisco Estuary‐Delta Tidal Datum Profile (modeled) ..................................................................... 14 Figure 1‐10. Tidal Flows Between Carquinez, Suisun, and the Delta ........................................................................... 15 Figure 1‐11. Delta Outflow Seasonal and Interannual Variability ............................................................................... 17 Figure 1‐12. Effects of Delta Outflow on Suisun Tide Stage: the 1998 El Niño. ........................................................... 18 Figure 1‐13. Net Upstream Flows in Peytonia