Project Page Views: [ 659 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Modelling Irish transitional and coastal systems to determine nutrient reduction measures to achieve good status |
| Research Area | EPA Water Pillar: Understanding, Managing and Conserving our Water Resources |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | 2015-W-FS-17 |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.279158101453305,-9.058747887611387 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/02/2016 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 31/01/2018 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Integrated Catchment Management; Biochemical Modelling; Water Quality; River Basin Management Plan; Nutrient Load |
| Project Abstract | The proposed research entails a detailed literature review of biogeochemical modelling, integrated catchment management and total maximum daily load derivation in order to focus the four main work packages. Improvements shall be made where necessary to DIVAST and DCPM water quality models for the purposes of biogeochemical modelling for the 2nd cycle River Basin Management Plans. DCPM will be benchmarked against DIVAST to determine the veracity of DCPM in identifying suitable nutrient load reduction. DIVAST will be utilised to assess the efficacy of previous nutrient abatement measures in advance of the selection of measures for the coming cycle of RBMPs. The same model will be used to consider the US Clean Water Act Total Maximum Daily Load procedure for a preselected nutrient of concern. The DCPM model will be applied to both transitional and coastal water bodies which were identified in Tier 1 assessment as “at-risk”. The nutrient load reductions which will bring at risk waters into compliance will be reported to inform policy on programmes of measures and RBMPs. Each of the 4 groups previously identified by Shane O’Boyle in PCA analysis will be modelled separately to conceptualise the biological response in each of the 4 categories. Developing solutions: The DCPM and DIVAST models will be enhanced to improve their usefulness for programme managers. By accounting for nutrient release from sediments in coastal waters, a greater understanding will be gained into coastal nutrient cycling. Pending agreement with the steering committee, a detailed TMDL model of a selected waterbody and catchment may be derived to allocate detailed load allocations for each nutrient source to bring that water into compliance. This prototype may be beneficial in the detailed planning for persistently at-risk water bodies. Informing policy: The final reports which will be produced using DCPM to identify nutrient load reductions necessary to bring TraC waters into compliance will inform policy makers as nutrient load reductions will be used by WFD managers to guide them in selecting the individual load reductions required from each source for programmes of measures and thus the next cycle of river basin management planning. Identifying pressures: The final report on the efficacy of different load reduction measures in bringing a transitional/coastal system into compliance will assist WFD managers by ranking point and diffuse pressures and the associated measures, which may indirectly inform managers in the decision making process for other similar catchments or waterbodies. |