Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/21571
Title: Integrating hydrologic modeling, hydraulic modeling and field data for ordinary high water mark delineation
Authors: Gartner, John D.
Lichvar, Robert.
Mersel, Matthew K.
Lefebvre, Lindsey E.
Keywords: Rivers
Hydrologic models
Hydraulic models
Fluvial geomorphology
Flow meters
Riparian plants
Publisher: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.: ERDC/CRREL;TR-16-3
Abstract: Abstract: This document explores the combined use of hydraulic and hydrologic modeling for ordinary high water mark (OHWM) delineation under the Clean Water Act and for other applications. Delineation of the OHWM is primarily based on identifying and interpreting field indicators. However, field delineation can be challenging and time consuming, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where river flows are highly variable and channels are complex. Therefore, some have turned to mathematical modeling to address these challenges, yet scant information exists on the benefits and limitations of various modeling approaches for OHWM delineation. This document examines and tests the use of hydraulic and hydrologic modeling for these purposes, comparing field-delineated OHWMs with modeled OHWMs and presenting over 40 HEC-RAS and HEC-GeoRAS model runs from six sites in the southwestern U.S. The examples demonstrate that modeling is typically not effective in accurately delineating the OHWM in the absence of extensive field data; however, modeling can be effective at ruling out extreme locations (either too high or too low) that might be misinterpreted as the OHWM. This document has two companion papers on hydraulic modeling and hydrologic modeling, respectively, that help regu-lators and applicants to properly apply these tools for OHWM delineation purposes.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/21571
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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