Detroit River Modelling and Management Framework and its use a Decision Support Tool for A Great Lak
Ken Drouillard, University of Windsor, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, [email protected]
Alice Grgicak-Mannion, University of Windsor, [email protected]
G. Doug Haffner, Great Lakes Institute, Univ. of Windsor, [email protected]
Abstract
The Detroit River Modelling and Management Framework (DRMMF) was developed in 1998 and continues to be used as a decision support tool. DRMMF is a synthesis of empirical data (water, sediment and biota contamination), hydrodynamic and food web models and geospatial database used to assess beneficial use impairments and/or need for mitigation actions. Key data sets generated as part of this project included enhanced surveys of sediment (PCBs, PAHs, Hg and Metals), water (PCBs and OCs) and biota contamination (multiple food web components). These data have been interpreted to uncover local and regional patterns of contamination using different geostatistical approaches and by coupling spatial patterns to process models. Some key insights generated by the DRMMF include i) performing hazard assessments of degraded benthos and validation with benthic invertebrate distributions; ii) coupling hydrodynamic models and biomonitoring datasets to deduce the stability of contaminated sediments and address if PCBs in the AOC reflect legacy deposits or on-going sources and iii) use of spatially explicit food web bioaccumulation models to predict fish exposures in support of sediment clean-up activities. This presentation will provide an overview of key observations arising from DRMMF, how it has evolved over time and its future applications.
1. Keyword
bioaccumulation
2. Keyword
benthos
3. Keyword
sediment quality