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Project 2 Abstract
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Fate and Transport of Metals and
Sediment in Surface Water
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| Investigator(s): Pierre Julien, Professor; Chester Watson, Professor;
Brian Bledsoe, Assistant Professor |
| Institution: Colorado State University |
| EPA Project Officer: Mitch Lasat |
| Project Period: October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2003 |
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| Objectives/Hypothesis: This effort will focus on surface
water and sediment transport, with an emphasis on the fate and transport
of metals in rivers from mining wastes. The main thrust of this two-year
proposal is to: 1) develop a predictive scientific methodology for
evaluating impacts resulting from point sources of metal pollution;
and 2) improve and develop computer modeling tools for the simulation
of point-source metals and fine sediment contamination in surface
waters. The ultimate goal of our research is to improve our mechanistic
understanding of the interaction between heavy metals and fine sediment. |
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Dr. Pierre Julien presents
at the TMW '02 conference.
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| Approach: The study entails: 1) field monitoring of contaminated
streams; and 2) computer modeling of advection, mixing and dispersion of
fine sediment and heavy metals from point sources. The models will be calibrated
and tested with field data at a Superfund site related to abandoned mine
lands, such as the California Gulch Superfund site in Colorado. One of the
main hypotheses to be tested is the relative importance of riffles and pools
in the detention and storage of contaminants and as a potential added mechanism
for the dispersion of contaminants in mountain streams. Other sites will
be determined in collaboration with the remediation and risk assessment
groups of this center proposal, as well as with the Water Quality Control
Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In
addition, consideration will be given to comparing the results from the
proposed model with other models pertaining to the same or similar applications. |
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| Expected Results: The two most important expected benefits of this
research are: 1) an improved understanding of the mechanics of heavy metal
fate and transport in mountain streams; and 2) development and validation
of numerical models for the simulation of advection, mixing and dispersion
of fine sediment and heavy metals in mountain streams. Field measurements
will be used to calibrate and test numerical models at several sites where
the water quality has been altered by mining waste contamination. Funding
is requested to support two graduate students to be supervised by three
academic faculty members for a period of two years. |
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| Supplemental Keywords: streams, water, watersheds, sediments, metals,
discharge, effluent, dissolved solids, restoration, aquatic habitat, modeling,
monitoring, heavy metals, Rocky Mountains |