PROJECT OVERVIEW

CILER Assistant Research Scientist Eric Anderson, GLERL researcher David Schwab and the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) developed and used the Huron to Erie Connecting Waterways Forecasting System (HECWFS) -- a computer model that predicts real-time water levels and currents -- to simulate various contaminant spills in the Huron-Erie Corridor (HEC). The corridor includes Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. The model was able to show them where, and how quickly, potential contaminant spills may travel in the corridor. To ensure the validity of the model’s predictions, Anderson and Schwab then released a small amount of water soluble dye into the St. Clair River to mimic different spill scenarios. The results from the model and dye releases allowed Anderson and Schwab to develop a Spill Reference Library, which includes information like how quickly and at what concentration a contaminant may travel to different locations. This information will allow decision makers, such as water intake managers, to better prepare and react to contaminant spills. This project is the first of its kind for the Huron Erie Corridor and fulfills a crucial forecasting gap in the Great Lakes region.

HURON TO ERIE CONNECTING WATERWAYS FORECASTING SYSTEM (HECWFS)

Anderson, with the cooperation of Schwab and funding from the GLOS, developed HECWFS in order to provide real-time nowcasts (present conditions) and forecasts (predictions) of physical conditions such as water currents and levels in the HEC. Currently, HECWFS provides nowcasts every 3 hours, which are made available to the public in real-time using Google Earth, and 48-hour forecasts every 12 hours. Before 2008, when HECWFS became operational, a real-time prediction system was unavailable for the corridor despite the crucial role it plays in recreation, drinking water, industry and commercial shipping. HEC decision makers, stakeholders and law enforcement can use the information provided by HECWFS to aid in HEC navigation, spill response, identifying fish kill sources, search and rescue, forensics, drinking water safety, beach quality forecasting and more. Please see the resources listed on the back page to access HECWFS realtime data and for more information.

SPILL REFERENCE LIBRARY

Using HECWFS and the subsequent dye release data, Anderson and Schwab carried out several contaminant spill scenarios for the HEC. This information was used to develop the Spill Reference Library, which contains several sets of tables that aim to inform and give decision makers the tools needed to plan for, and react to, a contaminant spill. Each table includes information about how an area might be impacted, like the estimated arrival time of the leading and trailing edge of the spill, the maximum
concentration of the contaminant and whether the contaminant mixed vertically or horizontally in the water column. The full Spill Reference Library is being compiled and will be distributed through GLOS and NOAAGLERL.

Download two-page information sheet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
GLOS HECWFS website: http://data.glos.us/hecwfs/
GLERL HECWFS website: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/hecwfs/