Creating and providing more accessible spill modeling results for Lake St. Clair and Detroit River

Session: Improving Model Predictions Through Coupled System and Data Assimilation (1)

David Schwab, MTRI, Michigan Technological University, [email protected]
Amanda Grimm, Michigan Tech Research Inst., [email protected]
Colin Brooks, Michigan Tech Research Institute, [email protected]
Rebecca Pearson, Great Lakes Observing System, [email protected]
Theodore Slawecki, LimnoTech, [email protected]
Rachael Barlock, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), [email protected]
Kelly Knee, RPS, [email protected]
Eric Anderson, NOAA/GLERL, [email protected]

Abstract

The Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), LimnoTech, RPS, and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) have recently completed a project to make spill scenario modeling results more easily accessible to water intake managers and beach users in the Lake St. Clair and Detroit River sections of the Huron-to-Erie Corridor (HEC). A new particle tracking model approach was used at MTRI along with currents from the operational NOAA-GLERL hydrodynamic HEC model to extend the previous NOAA-GLERL work on the spill travel time in the St.Clair River to the rest of the HEC. Geospatial model results were integrated into a dedicated version of the GLOS Data Portal for ease of use, with the help of RPS. Stakeholders were engaged through webinars and in-person meetings through SEMCOG’s drinking water network collaboration. Results were generated for three public beaches and seven potable water intakes. Modeling results included average, minimum, and maximum travel time, plus probability of impact from spill points to modeled receptors. Feedback has been positive, helping inform regional water intake managers on how long it may take for potential spills to reach their water intakes and the risk that a spill could impact them.