“Demonstration and Validation of a Linked Watershed-Riverine Modeling System for DoD Installations” by Dr. Billy Johnson

The objective of this project was to demonstrate and validate a linked watershed and riverine modeling system. The system helps land managers assess outcomes resulting from military activities and support installation sustainability through informed watershed management of water, water quality, contaminants, and land-use impacts. Three watersheds were used: (1) House Creek Watershed (Fort Hood, TX), (2) Calleguas Creek Watershed (NAVFAC Ventura County, CA), and (3) Patuxent Watershed (Fort Meade, MD). The Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) and the River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) were used to simulate watershed processes and riverine processes, respectively. HSPF simulates for extended periods of time the hydrologic and associated water quality processes on pervious and impervious land surfaces and in streams and well-mixed impoundments. HEC-RAS system computes one dimensional hydrodynamics, sediment, and water quality. Benefits can be derived from the ability of the linked modeling system to determine contaminant loads entering and leaving DoD installations. In certain locations, this can be used to identify to what extent the installation is responsible for impaired waters. In cases where mitigation needs to take place, the system will help land managers better assess which scenarios will provide the most environmental benefits for the least financial cost.

“Identifying the Most Cost Effective Modeling Approach Using the Stormwater Management Optimization Toolbox (SMOT)” by Ms. Heidi Howard

The Stormwater Management Optimization Toolbox (SMOT) was demonstrated and validated for its capacity to provide one-stop assistance for installations to comply with stormwater regulatory requirements, most specifically Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) Section 438. DoD installations may be subject to National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, as well as EISA 438. Demonstrating compliance with these regulations often involves modeling analyses of various best management practices (BMPs) and/or low impact development (LID) strategies, including an assessment of the construction costs and long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) needs to maintain the intendent functionality of the BMPs and LID. SMOT is intended to rapidly identify the most cost-effective stormwater management approach for DoD installations to ensure that applicable regulatory requirements are met. SMOT consists of three major components: (1) a Model Selection Tool for choosing the most cost-effective modeling approach, (2) a Detailed Modeling Platform to execute the modeling analysis, and (3) a BMP Sizing Tool for sizing, tracking and reporting of BMPs to be implemented at an installation. This webinar will discuss the demonstration, validation, and how SMOT can be used as an installation-wide tool by installation planners or engineers with minimal technical assistance.

Dr. Billy Johnson serves as a focus area manager and senior research team leader for the Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). He has over 30 years of experience working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at the District, Division, and Laboratory levels. He leads research and development activities involving the creation of Nutrient Sub-Model (NSM) within the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) and the creation of Contaminant Simulation Module (CSM) within the Environmental Qualities Technology (EQT) Research Program. These water quality modules have been integrated with multiple USACE watershed and surface water modeling systems. In addition to NSM and CSM, Billy is the focus area leader for the development of the Training Range Environmental Evaluation and Characterization System (TREECS) within the EQT. This is a client-based system that allows training range managers to assess the risk of military contaminants on firing and training ranges. Billy has authored over 40 technical reports, book chapters, journal articles, and other publications detailing his research and development efforts. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University (1987), a master’s degree in civil engineering from Memphis State University (1993), and a doctoral degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University (1997).

Ms. Heidi Howard is a Research Agronomist for Military Lands with the Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign, Illinois. Heidi is the program lead for development of methodologies and algorithms for quantification of cumulative interactions of land management and military systems on training lands. This includes the development, validation and implementation of stormwater and erosion control management designs; military vehicle impact models; and vehicle impact assessment and vegetation recovery. She is responsible for research on sustainable lands and ranges for military installations. Heidi holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Western Illinois University and a master’s degree in natural resource and environmental sciences from the University of Illinois.