Measured and Modeled Water Velocities in the Detroit River Near Belle Isle from 2014-2017

This data set contains water depths and velocities measured with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) used to develop a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The CFD model was used to inform fish spawning habitat remediation projects in the Detroit River near Belle Isle. Prior to construction of three fish spawning reefs in 2016, ADCP measurements were made throughout the study area in 2014 and 2016. ADCP surveys were repeated in 2017 following the construction of the reefs. Water velocity measurements made prior to reef construction were used to calibrate the CFD model predicting the flow field over the remediation sites during pre-construction conditions. Following calibration, the three reefs were virtually added to the computational domain by manipulating the bathymetry to reflect post-construction conditions and the CFD model was repeated with the post-construction bathymetry. Post-construction ADCP measurements were then used to evaluate the ability of the model to predict flow patterns with the virtual addition of the reefs. Water velocities corresponding to specific latitude, longitude, and depth coordinates, as well as shear stress and vorticity predictions from the CFD models with and without the reefs are also included.