The evaluation of selected one-dimensional stream water quality models with field data

The U.S. Geological Survey One-Dimensional Stream Water-Quality Model, QUAL II Stream Water-Quality Routing Model, the U.S. Army corps of Engineers Water Quality for River Reservoir Systems Model, and the M.I.T. Transient Water Quality Network were evaluated and compared using actual water-quality data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey. The field data were taken from steady-state studies of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, the Willamette River in Oregon, and the Arkansas River in Colorado. The data used to evaluate the models covered a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological conditions. The Willamette River is a large sluggish stream, whereas the Arkansas River is a small dynamic stream. The Chattahoochee River is of moderate size. Each stream has unique water-quality characteristics that test a wide range of model options. (USGS)