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### News Release 

##### U.S. Department of the Interior

#### U.S. Geological Survey 

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#### Release Contact: 

#### May 19, 2000 Dave Holtschlag

**Address: Email:**

#### 6520 Mercantile Way djholtsc@usgs.gov

Suite 5

Lansing, MI 48911

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# **Phone: Fax:**

517-887-8910 517-887-8937

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MDEQ, USGS Scientists Hope New Project Will "Buoy" Drinking Water
Protection

\*\*\*\*NOTE TO EDITORS: News crews are invited to join scientists on
the Detroit River on May 23, 2000, at 10 a.m., to get footage of the
buoy prject. For more information call: Dave Holtschlag at (517)
887-8910. \*\*\*\*

MDEQ and USGS scientists, starting May 23, will begin a new phase in a
project to model the flow of the St. Clair -- Detroit River Waterway.
The new, computer-based flow model will enable managers to better
protect the drinking water supply for 4 million people in the Detroit
area.

Next week, scientists from USGS, with support from MDEQ, USACE, and
Environment Canada will deploy 10 buoys within the Detroit River. These
drifting buoys are equipped with GPS (global positioning system) units
that transmit their position every 90 seconds. Dave Holtschlag, project
chief for this study for USGS, explains that the buoy measurements will
help scientists understand the general movement and dispersion of
particles within the waterway. In particular, the way the buoys move\--
whether they stay together or disperse as they move downstream, and
whether they travel in a straight path or meander \--will help assess
the susceptibility of public water supply intakes to contaminants from
various sources.

The model has many potential uses, according to Brad Brogren, of MDEQ's
Drinking Water and Radiological Protection Division:

-   Identifying where the water comes from that supplies public water to
    16 municipal water treatment plants in Southeast Michigan.

-   Determining the impacts of tributary flows, wastewater treatment
    facility discharges, storm sewer outfalls, and combined sewer
    overflows on water quality.

-   Enhancing emergency preparedness by providing a tool for predicting
    the movement of discharges from wastewater treatment facilities and
    spills.

-   Describing lake circulation patterns to help understand their impact
    on source water areas and critical habitats.

-   Providing a basis for understanding the effects of dredging on flow
    and sediment transport.

The waterway, which connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie, has three major
components: St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River. The
model computes water-surface elevations and flows through the waterway,
which average about 200,000 cubic feet per second.

Accurate streambed elevation data are needed for model development.
Existing data, originally obtained in the late 1950s and early 1960s,
are being updated this year to document current conditions in the
waterway. In April 2000, NOAA started the new survey using a single-beam
echo sounder. Over 1100 cross sections will be collected throughout the
connecting channels. The new data will be available in September 2000 to
describe the current flow geometry. This data also will subsequently be
used to update navigational charts.

The model is being developed for the Michigan Source Water Assessment
Program by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through funding agreements
with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is assisting under contract with MDEQ,
and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is assisting under contract
with USGS. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and Environment Canada are also involved with the model's workgroup.

In spring 2001, a report will document the development process and the
capabilities of the flow model. The flow model will be utilized by MDEQ
to complete source water assessments for the public water supplies on
this waterway. The model is expected to also provide a basis for further
studies of particle movements, water chemistry, and sediment transport
within the waterway. An electronic version of the report will be
accessible for public information. Further information on the Source
Water Assessment Program in Michigan can be found on the internet at
<http://www.deq.state.mi.us/dwr/SWA/swa.htm>. Further information about
U.S. Geological Survey work on this and other projects can be found at
[http://mi.water.usgs.gov](http://mi.water.usgs.gov/).

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and civilian
mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000
organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial,
scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other
customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS
scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural
disasters, to contribute to the conservation and the sound economic and
physical development of the nation's natural resources, and to enhance
the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral
resources.

\*\*\*USGS\*\*\*

In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home
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