A WATER-QUALITY MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR THE LAKES BAY ESTUARINE EMBAYMENT .1. RECEIVING WATER-QUALITY MODEL

Mathematical models were constructed to estimate the non-point pollutant loadings from an urbanizing area as well as to model the assimilative capacity of the receiving tidal embayment system. The models are capable of simulating the hydrologic aspects as well as the water quality cycles of the system as a function of urbanization. In determining the response of the receiving water system to stormwater loadings, the change in receiving water quality is modeled spatially as well as temporally. The overall model is composed of three subsystem models: a stormwater model, a hydrodynamic tidal model, and a receiving water quality model. Construction of the stormwater model is based on STORM (Storage, Treatment, Overflow, Runoff Model) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A ground water component to the model was added to adjust the model for application to the study area, Lakes Bay, New Jersey. The receiving water quality model is a two-dimensional time variable water quality model which is based on a finite segment approach. The water quality model is linked to a hydrodynamic model capable of predicting the amount of of tidal flow movement between segments in a time variable mode in the embayment system. The models were calibrated and verified using data from a comprehensive field study of Lakes Bay, New Jersey. The water quality parameters modeled were suspended solids and fecal coliform.