Groundwater Modeling and BMP Effectiveness Evaluation
Location
Montgomery County, Maryland
Client
Traville Partnership
Services Provided
Instrumentation Monitoring
Calibrated Groundwater Model
Optimized BMP Placement
Evaluated BMP Life Cycle Problems
Water Quality Impacts of Development
Numerical Simulation of Development Impacts to Groundwater and Stream Baseflow
Project Overview
The Traville development of a 240-acre site located in a sensitive watershed designated as a "Special Protection Area" by Montgomery County, Maryland, was the focus of public opposition and regulatory concern. Schnabel assessed the predicted impacts of the development and the effectiveness of planned Best Management Practices (BMP) for the site. Schnabel’s extensive data gathering effort included installation and monitoring of 26 groundwater monitoring wells, two Parshall flumes with continuous recorders, and a rain gage, and regional climatic data gathering.
The analysis and design included the evaluation of storm flow in the on-site streams using various hydrologic models, documentation and measurement of stream baseflow, and assessment of the impact of the proposed changes in the watershed on the flows. This information was used to develop a water balance for the site and correlate stream base flow with seasonal variations and changes in groundwater levels. Average annual conditions for the site were defined and used to develop a finite difference numerical simulation of the site’s groundwater flow system in conjunction with site material hydraulic property data. The model was successfully calibrated to match existing pre-development groundwater and stream flow conditions.
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