2017 SWCS Annual Conference July 30-August 2, 2017 Monona Terrace Convention Center

1. DevelopingDeveloping a Placea Place--Based ToolBased Tool forfor
Evaluating the Water QuantityEvaluating the Water Quantity
and Quality Effects of Wetlandand Quality Effects of Wetland
Loss and Restoration Scenarios atLoss and Restoration Scenarios at
a Watershed Scalea Watershed Scale
WanhongWanhong Yang,Yang, YongboYongbo Liu, ShawnLiu, Shawn ShaoShao and John Lindsayand John Lindsay
August 1, 2017August 1, 2017

2. Agricultural Conservation PracticesAgricultural Conservation Practices
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/conservation/practices/bufferforested.aspx
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

3. SWAT Wetland ModellingSWAT Wetland Modelling

4. Isolated Wetland: The HEW ApproachIsolated Wetland: The HEW Approach
Rationale:Rationale:
 When all the wetlands in aWhen all the wetlands in a
watershed could be replaced bywatershed could be replaced by
one specific wetlandone specific wetland
AndAnd
 the hydrologic response at thethe hydrologic response at the
watershed outlet would remainwatershed outlet would remain
unchangedunchanged
ThenThen
 This specific wetland is defined asThis specific wetland is defined as
thethe ““Hydrologic EquivalentHydrologic Equivalent
WetlandWetland”” (HEW)(HEW)
)HEW(f)wetland,,wetland,wetland(f)outlet(F N21n  
1
2
3
N
outlet

5. A cellA cell--based, fullbased, full
distributed watersheddistributed watershed
model (model (IMWEBsIMWEBs))

6. ModellingModelling in Space and Timein Space and Time
SWAT: Soil and Water AssessmentSWAT: Soil and Water Assessment
Tool (SWAT)Tool (SWAT)
IMWEBsIMWEBs: I: Integratedntegrated MModellingodelling forfor
WWatershedatershed EEvaluation ofvaluation of BBMPMPss
1
2
3
N
outlet
Subbasin-based
Cell-based
IMWEBsIMWEBs modelmodel
simulatessimulates individualindividual
wetlandswetlands in ain a
subbasinsubbasin SWATSWAT modelmodel
simulatessimulates lumpedlumped
wetlandswetlands in ain a
subbasinsubbasin

7. IntegratedIntegrated ModellingModelling forfor
Watershed Evaluation ofWatershed Evaluation of BMPsBMPs
((IMWEBsIMWEBs))
 ModularModular
 Open Source GISOpen Source GIS
IMWEBsIMWEBs isis a cella cell--based, fully distributed hydrologic modelbased, fully distributed hydrologic model that is designedthat is designed
for evaluating water quantity and quality effects of agriculturafor evaluating water quantity and quality effects of agriculturall BMPsBMPs
(including wetland conservation) at site, field, farm, and water(including wetland conservation) at site, field, farm, and watershed scales.shed scales.

8. Development of a Fully DistributedDevelopment of a Fully Distributed
IMWEBsIMWEBs--WetlandWetland ModelModel
 Develop aDevelop a wetland modulewetland module andand interfaceinterface based on thebased on the IMWEBsIMWEBs
modelmodel
 Setup, calibrate and validate theSetup, calibrate and validate the IMWEBsIMWEBs--WetlandWetland model in amodel in a
representative watershedrepresentative watershed
 Apply theApply the IMWEBsIMWEBs--WetlandWetland model to examinemodel to examine site specificsite specific
wetland effects on water quantity and qualitywetland effects on water quantity and quality and spatialand spatial
targeting of wetland restoration and retentiontargeting of wetland restoration and retention
Project Sponsor: Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring InstituteProject Sponsor: Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute

9. IMWEBsIMWEBs--Wetland: Wetland CategoriesWetland: Wetland Categories
Based on Ducks Unlimited Canada wetland inventory data. The fiveBased on Ducks Unlimited Canada wetland inventory data. The five
categories of isolated wetland in Prairie areas are used incategories of isolated wetland in Prairie areas are used in IMWEBsIMWEBs toto
quantify different Aquantify different A--VV--Q relationships.Q relationships.

10. IMWEBsIMWEBs--Wetland:Wetland: ModellingModelling StrategyStrategy
1). Watershed is divided into1). Watershed is divided into subbasinssubbasins,, oneone subbasinsubbasin contains only onecontains only one
wetland at the outletwetland at the outlet..
2). Wetland parameters are estimated based on DEM, land use, an2). Wetland parameters are estimated based on DEM, land use, andd
wetland inventory data.wetland inventory data.
3). Cells within the wetland polygon are simulated the same as u3). Cells within the wetland polygon are simulated the same as uplandpland
cells, but are not grouped into one unit.cells, but are not grouped into one unit.
4). Wetland module is on the top of the existing4). Wetland module is on the top of the existing IMWEBsIMWEBs model with inputsmodel with inputs
from its drainage areas, and outputs the same as the reach outpufrom its drainage areas, and outputs the same as the reach output.t.
5).Wetland connections are through surface water and groundwater5).Wetland connections are through surface water and groundwater..
Surface water follows along the pathway derived from the DEM oncSurface water follows along the pathway derived from the DEM once thee the
wetland is filled or above its normal storage. Groundwater is siwetland is filled or above its normal storage. Groundwater is simulatedmulated
separately from the wetland module based on contributing areas.separately from the wetland module based on contributing areas.

11. The BroughtonThe Broughton’’s Creek (BRC) Watersheds Creek (BRC) Watershed
Source: LSRCD, 2005Source: LSRCD, 2005
250 KM2

12. Wetland DrainageWetland Drainage
Source: DUC, 2008Source: DUC, 2008

13. IMWEBsIMWEBs Model SetupModel Setup
 7,4867,486 subbsinssubbsins, 3.3 ha on average, 3.3 ha on average
 Objective: water qualityObjective: water quality
 Process and method: defaultProcess and method: default
 ExistingExisting BMPsBMPs::
Crop managementCrop management
Fertilizer managementFertilizer management
Tillage ManagementTillage Management
WetlandsWetlands
Climate Input:Climate Input:
Precipitation, temperature, windPrecipitation, temperature, wind
speed and direction.speed and direction.
Outputs:Outputs:
Flow, sediment, and nutrientFlow, sediment, and nutrient
loadings at selected sites; spatialloadings at selected sites; spatial
distribution of selected variables.distribution of selected variables.

14. Wetland Statistics in the BRC WatershedWetland Statistics in the BRC Watershed
Under Existing ConditionUnder Existing Condition
No. Type Count Area Average
area
Percent of
wetland area
Percent of
watershed area
(ha) (ha) (%) (%)
1 Altered 2,246 672 0.299 12.2 2.58
2 Intact 2,006 1413 0.704 25.7 5.43
3 Drained consolidated 296 1041 3.52 18.9 4.00
4 Drained altered 1,231 1371 1.11 24.9 5.27
5 Drained lost 1,780 1000 0.56 18.2 3.85
Sum 7,559 5,497 0.73 100 21.1

15. Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (1)Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (1)
Surface RunoffSurface Runoff Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

16. Relative Soil MoistureRelative Soil Moisture Groundwater RechargeGroundwater Recharge
Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (2)Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (2)

17. TP Yield TN YieldTN Yield
Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (3)Spatial Watershed Results in 2010 (3)

18. Spatial Wetland ResultsSpatial Wetland Results in 2011in 2011--0606--2525
TP ConcentrationTP ConcentrationWater Volume

19. Station 16
Scenario DevelopmentScenario Development
Scenarios Description
Lost All wetlands are lost
DA2DL All drained-altered wetlands are changed to drained-lost wetlands
UDA2DL All undrained-altered wetlands are changed to drained-lost wetlands
DA2UI All drained-altered wetlands are changed to undrained-intact
wetlands
DADC2UI All drained-altered and drained-consolidated wetlands are changed
to undrained-intact wetlands
Restoration All drained wetlands are restored

20. Scenario Assessment at BRC OutletScenario Assessment at BRC Outlet
Scenarios Flow Sediment TN TP
Lost 46.7% 20.1% 89.5% 96.1%
DA2DL 14.6% 7.6% 49.3% 53.9%
UDA2DL 2.0% 1.8% 26.4% 31.4%
DA2UI -10.0% -13.3% -15.4% -12.5%
DADC2UI -27.8% -43.4% -43.5% -38.5%
Restoration -35.1% -52.2% -55.9% -49.6%

21. Targeting Wetlands Restoration Based onTargeting Wetlands Restoration Based on
TP ReductionTP Reduction
(TP_in – TP_out)/Wetland_surface_area for wetland area > 0.3 ha

22. ConclusionsConclusions
 A cellA cell--based, fully distributedbased, fully distributed IMWEBsIMWEBs--Wetland model isWetland model is
developed and applied to the BRC watershed in Canadiandeveloped and applied to the BRC watershed in Canadian
Prairie with reasonable performancePrairie with reasonable performance
 The model has advantages in characterizing complex wetlandThe model has advantages in characterizing complex wetland
drainage system. Outputs of the model can be used for spatialdrainage system. Outputs of the model can be used for spatial
targeting of wetland restoration at a watershed scaletargeting of wetland restoration at a watershed scale
 The model run needs a large computer memory and is alsoThe model run needs a large computer memory and is also
time consuming.time consuming.
 Model improvements and more modeling tests are requiredModel improvements and more modeling tests are required
with available field monitoring datawith available field monitoring data

23. Contact InformationContact Information
Dr.Dr. WanhongWanhong YangYang
Watershed Evaluation GroupWatershed Evaluation Group
Department of GeographyDepartment of Geography
University of GuelphUniversity of Guelph
Tel: 519Tel: 519--824824--4120 X 530904120 X 53090
Fax: 519Fax: 519--837837--29402940
Email:Email: wayang@uoguelph.cawayang@uoguelph.ca
Web:Web: http://www.uoguelph.ca/geography/WEGhttp://www.uoguelph.ca/geography/WEG